DA: Bristol County motor vehicle fatalities rising sharply

By Herald News Staff

Posted Nov 26, 2019

As the holidays near, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III is calling attention to an increasing number of motor vehicle fatalities

Since Sept. 12, 24 people have died in motor vehicle crashes throughout the county, according to state police statistics. Six fatalities occurred on interstates, including two on I-195. The other 17 happened on local roads and state highways, including three on Route 24 in the past few weeks. From Jan. 1 to Sept. 2, there were 25 motor vehicle deaths in the county.

According to the National Safety Council, motor vehicle fatalities in Massachusetts rose by 46% between 2013 and 2017.

“Based upon the rash of motor vehicle fatalities recently, it is becoming increasingly clear that people are very distracted while driving and are simply driving too aggressively,” Quinn said in a news release. “Unfortunately this can have tragic consequences that families and friends have to live with forever.”

Quinn said he was hopeful that legislation passed by the Legislature last week banning handheld devices by drivers will have an impact.

The district attorney’s office is the lead investigatory agency on all fatalities in the county, including all motor vehicle-related fatalities, and is also responsible for prosecuting all criminal charges that arise from motor vehicle deaths.

“Personally, I find it increasingly dangerous to be driving on the highway trying to respond to distracted, aggressive and reckless drivers,” Quinn said. “I implore people to slow down and pay attention to what they’re doing on the roadways. This would clearly result in fewer accidents and tragic deaths. If you have had too much to drink, please call a friend or family member so a potential tragedy can be avoided.”

In the release, the DA also said there are many potential scenarios where a driver would not be charged with a crime even when death or injury results. But once a driver flees from a crash and does not contact police, the incident automatically becomes a serious crime that carries mandatory minimum jail or prison sentences.

Quinn said his office is also investigating two recent fatalities.

Investigators are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a vehicle believed to be involved in a fatal hit-and-run crash on I-95 in Attleboro Sept. 16. Police believe that a woman who was driving a large white SUV struck the victim while the victim was attempting to cross the highway at around 10 p.m. The driver of the SUV is believed to have stopped on the left side of the highway, briefly exited her vehicle and then drove off. The driver was described as being about 5 feet, 4 inches tall and approximately 160 pounds. The vehicle may have exited the highway into Pawtucket. It is believed the large white SUV is either a white Chevy Suburban or a white Cadillac Escalade ESV (extended version), with damage to the passenger-side headlight. Anyone with information is urged to contact State Police assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office at 508-993-2016.

Investigators also are seeking witnesses who were driving in the area of 305 Middleboro Ave. in Taunton Nov. 6 around 5:30 p.m. and either saw the victim, Jose Ferreira, walking prior to the crash or saw the crash itself. Anyone with information is urged to contact State Trooper Brock Morrissette at 508-961-1904 or Taunton Police Detective Robert Swartz at 508-821-1475 (ext. 3133).