Major smashup in Coolidge Corner
By adamg - Thu, 06/19/2008 - 6:06pm.
Harvard and Babcock streets, in front of the Gap around 5:30 p.m., at least four vehicles involved; numerous injuries reported. Ryan files this dispatch:
Both vehicles were crushed but one was much worst than the other -- completely minced. At my count there were at least three fire trucks, four ambulances and a swarm of police cars. They were closing down Harvard Street from Beacon down to (at least) the accident area, including the sidewalks. All the pedestrians were in the process of being rerouted.
3 cars
3 cars (and one parked car) were involved. One car ended up sideways and then burst into flames almost immediately. Quite scary.
Channel 5 is saying that an elderly driver was speeding down Harvard Street and lost control, hitting both other cars and businesses.
And a pic on Bostonist.
Epic Fail?
I'm not a regular reader of Bostonist but do they always fail miserably when it comes to finding humor in tragedy?
7 News has a blurb and a
7 News has a blurb and a picture up on their site:
http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO80855/
Channel 4 reports nine injured
And posts a couple of photos.
witness
I work at the Citizens Bank on Coolidge corner, we saw the whole thing go down, all we could see was flying glass, smoke and fire, it was the worst accident to have witnessed by far. I have seen so many close calls on that corner, this accident was inevitable. People need to SLOW DOWN!
accident coolidge corner
I would like to thank all of the brave people that helped the woman in the car and to put out the fire....it was my sister and all I can say is God Bless you all .... you probably saved her life . And please say a prayer for her. The doctors say she is stable and in the best hands possible .
Five children among the injured
The Tab reports.
Two bloggers were there
Michael and Nomi Burstein were about 100 yards away:
A few new items
Sorry to just hear about the kids being involved. There were a few SUV/minivans involved, that's for sure. What is wierd is that I chose not to ride my friend's scooter today for the first time all week. It was a voluntary decision I made in the morning, but my evening route home would have been going right by this location at the exact same time as the accident (instead I took the 8 to the 66 today). Crazy. I am solemn in my knowledge that I avoided very likely being in this accident.
Just what I learned having been at the scene myself:
66 Bus is rerouted currently. It was announced by the MBTA radio while I was on the bus that the 66 is going to turn down Winchester when going to Dudley and down St Paul when coming from Dudley.
A lot of traffic is being rerouted because of the number of streets blocked off so don't expect the 66 to maintain a normal schedule for a while.
Pedestrian traffic has been reopened on the Coolidge Corner Clubhouse side of the Street (same side as Babcock).
VERY likely? yea, right
VERY likely? yea, right
Like Clockwork
Um, I know what time I left work that day. I know how long it takes to get from work to Coolidge Corner by scooter. I know exactly what time the accident happened. This ain't rocket science.
Then again, neither is trolling.
first Packard's Corner, then Coolidge Corner
maybe I'd better stay away from Newton Corner this month?
Channel 5: Chain reaction started by speeder
A driver traveling at a high rate of speed through a commercial neighborhood crashed into several cars ...
crazy
It's usually so clogged there. How could a car even be going above 30 mph?
seriously
I saw this van drive right past me as I was walking home from CVS right before this happened. All these news reports say the guy lost control as he was speeding on Harvard St- I actually saw him going so fast that he was passing people on the left side(the wrong side)of the road to maintain his high speed. As far as I can tell this guy seemed to be in a real rush and wasn't letting anything get in his way.
I guess
He was late to meet his maker.
Man dies
The Tab reports.
Accident progression
The Daily News Tribune has more details including victim names and information on how the accident progressed.
It appears the older man driving the car that started the accident was speeding and struck a series of double-parked cars on Harvard.
Raw video from the scene
Here.