A 17-year-old Weymouth teen is dead after the stolen car he was driving crashed into a tree on Washington Street following a brief police pursuit.
Four other teenagers ranging between 14 and 17 years old were also seriously injured in the crash, including a female passenger who was ejected from the vehicle. None of the teenagers involved are believed to be from Abington.
Police Chief John Bonney said during an afternoon press conference that an Abington police officer reported he was on Walnut Street following a red Hyundai Santa Fe that had been reported stolen from Brockton on Tuesday. Bonney said he wasn’t sure how the officer determined the vehicle was stolen, just that the officer had notified dispatch he was following a stolen vehicle that was traveling at a high rate of speed.
The officer followed the vehicle onto Centre Avenue, and then onto Washington Street. The officer then notified dispatch that the vehicle had crashed into a tree at 877 Washington Street and that multiple ambulances were needed at the scene.
Bonney did not disclose the name of the officer involved. He described the officer as a two-year veteran of the department and “a kind, caring human being.” Bonney said the officer has been placed on paid administrative leave, but that the move wasn’t punitive, rather to allow the officer to receive care after witnessing the crash and aftermath.
“We’re caring for his well-being,” Bonney said. “It certainly was a traumatic crash.”
Surveillance video taken from Abington Liquors on the corner of Centre Avenue and Washington Street show the red SUV take a right-hand turn onto Washington Street around 7:43 Wednesday morning. An Abington Police cruiser follows closely behind. A second Abington Police officer heading south through the intersection at the same time is seen flipping their vehicle’s lights on and turning around to also follow the vehicle down Washington Street. The video does not show the crash which happens more than a half mile down the road.
Bonney said the Abington officers were trying to stop the vehicle when the crash occurred.
“The lights were on, the sirens were activated,” Bonney said.
Bonney declined to release the name of the driver. He said he personally went to his mother’s home and spoke with her.
The vehicle crashed into a large tree in the front yard of 877 Washington Street. Tire marks could be seen leading off the road and into the tree. Neighbors said the crash sounded like an explosion.
Fire Chief Jack Glynn said he requested all on and off-duty firefighters to report to the scene to assist in treating the five victims.
“The scene that was encountered by fire personnel and police personnel, was a traumatic situation in which all personnel had to operate at the highest levels they had to give, and they did just that,” Glynn said in a statement posted on Facebook.
The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. The other four were brought to area hospitals before being transported to Boston hospitals.
Washington Street was closed to traffic for a few hours while emergency crews worked and then investigators documented the scene.
Bonney said the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office is investigating all aspects of the accident including the actions of the Abington officers.
Bonney was careful to say while the victim was driving a stolen car, he didn’t know if he was involved with the theft.