Somerville Man Charged With OUI in Stoneham Crash

Daniel Gerard received non-life threatening injuries in crash on I-93 in Stoneham early Saturday.

UPDATE, 10:18 a.m.: A Somerville man was charged with operating under the influence of liquor after the accident in Stoneham on I-93 south that closed three lanes of the highway early Saturday. Massachusetts State Police Trooper Nicole Morrell said Daniel Gerard, 32, of Somerville was issued a summons after being transported to MGH with non-life threatening injuries. Morrell said the accident involved a vehicle operated by Gerard and a tractor-trailer unit on I-93 southbound south of Exit 35. Morrell did not have information on the type of vehicle Gerard was operating. The operator of the tractor-trailer unit was not injured in the crash, according to Morrell. ORIGINAL STORY: A person was entraped in a vehicle following a crash on …

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Sobriety Checkpoint Scheduled for Today, Tomorrow

State police on the lookout for people drinking and driving.

Massachusetts State Police will be conducting a motor vehicle sobriety checkpoint Friday, March 15 into Saturday, March 16, somewhere within Middlesex County, according to a state police press release. Police will be stopping vehicles to find potentially drunk drivers between somewhere in Middlesex County, which includes Burlington. As is normal practice, police do not disclose the hours or locations of the checkpoints. "The purpose is to further educate the motoring public and strengthen the public’s awareness to the need of detecting and removing those motorists who operate under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs from our roadways," a State Police statement reads. "It will be operated during varied hours, the selection of vehicles …

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Police: Remote Key Ignited Vapors Causing Car Explosion

WHDH reported that vapors coming from plumbing equipment in the car's truck caused an explosion in the BJ's Wholesale Club parking lot on Sunday afternoon.

Flammable vapors were accidentally ignited by a remote car key, causing a car to explode in the BJ's Wholesale Club parking lot on Sunday afternoon, WHDH reports.  Stoneham Police received multiple 911 calls around 3:30 p.m. on Sunday about the explosion, according to an emailed statement from Stoneham Police. Police officers and firefighters found a 2012 Honda Civic "badly damaged" by the explosion, with parts from the car strewn throughout the parking lot and two damage to two other vehicles parked nearby. The Honda was parked and unoccupied at the time of the explosion and no one was injured. The Massachusetts State Police bomb squad responded along with the state Fire Marshal's Office to investigate.  "After interviewing witnesses and …

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State Police Spread Awareness on Use of Headphones While Driving

The use of such electronic devices can be hazardous while operating a vehicle, State Police said this week.

[Editor's Note: The following message was submitted to Stoneham Patch by the Massachusetts State Police.] The Massachusetts State Police, in conjunction with the Department of Transportation, have begun a public awareness message on the use of personal headphones, or “ear buds,” while driving a motor vehicle. The constant need for instant communication has helped pioneer a host of advanced cell phone technology and has become an integral part of our lives. Unfortunately, this has added to the many distractions that hinder safe operation of motor vehicles. Hands-free technology, including personal headphones, have helped eliminate the constant need to hold a cell phone while driving. But some operators have begun to use their headsets to …

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State Troopers Recognized for Helping in NY, NJ After Hurricane Sandy

"There's nothing that I can compare to what I saw down there," said one of the 25 troopers that helped out after Sandy devastated nearby states.

Before Hurricane Sandy's full scope of devastation in New York and New Jersey was even known, 25 men and women from the Massachusetts State Police were on their way to assist those who had been displaced from their homes. "When I reached out to ask if the state police would be willing to field a group of 25 people, I already knew the answer," Undersecretary for Homeland Security and Director of MEMA Kurt Schwartz said in a press conference in Framingham Monday afternoon. "The answer was a resounding yes." One of the troopers was Brian Dunn, who works out of the South Boston barracks. "There's nothing that I can compare to what I saw down there," said the 28-year veteran of the force. "We were there when they came home for the first time. …

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Traffic Enforcement Ramps Up During Holiday Season

Troopers from all over New England want to help local drivers stay safe and prevent crashes during the holiday season.

The holidays are upon us, and many residents will be traveling this week to see family and friends all across New England. State Police are doing their part to help ensure these visits don't end in tragedy because of impaired or distracted driving. The Massachusetts State Police joined forces with other New England State Police divisions at headquarters in Framingham to explain their Combined Accident Reduction Effort (C.A.R.E) program. Increased patrols this week will be cracking down on impaired/drunk driving, texting while driving and seatbelt law violations, among other things. "We aren't trying to discourage people from going out and enjoying themselves," Massachusetts State Police Col. Timothy P. Alben said. "We just want to make …

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Man Dies in Early Morning I-93 Crash

A 35-year-old Everett man died early this morning in Stoneham when his car struck a rock ledge off the northbound side of the interstate.

A 35-year-old Everett man died early this morning in Stoneham when his car went off I-93 North and crashed into a rock ledge, according to a Massachusetts State Police press release. State Police troopers responded at 1:30 a.m. Monday morning to a single-car crash before Exit 36 on Route 93. A preliminary investigation indicates that 2003 Toyota Echo driven by Oscar Lopez exited the right side of the roadway "for reasons still under investigation" and struck the rock ledge, causing severe damage to the front of the car, according to the press release. Lopez suffered traumatic injuries in the crash and was pronounced dead on the scene, State Police said. He was not wearing a seatbelt. The crash remains under investiation by State Police, …

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John

1:35 am on Friday, February 8, 2013

Hey Russ no this man was not an illegal immigrant and you are truly an asshole. What would make you think he is an illegal? The fact that his name is Oscar Lopez gives you no right to assume he is an illegal. I understand the name can influence you to think he is Hispanic but illegal? Really? Come on grow up and stop making yourself look stupid. First off what does being legal or illegal have to …   more ›

Car Rolls Over From 93 North Onto Southbound Side

Three people trapped, included a child in a car seat.

UPDATED: Stoneham Man Remains in 'Critical Condition' at Massachusetts General Hospital

A 25-year-old Stoneham man may have been outside his disabled car when he was struck by a Ford Explorer, owned by WHDH Channel 7 and driven by a 42-year-old Sudbury man and employee of the TV station, on Route 93 near Exit 29 in Somerville, according to M

Updated at 4:35 p.m. Jan. 19 A Stoneham man struck by a television news sport utility vehicle (SUV) Tuesday remains in "critical condition" at Massachusetts General Hospital, according to a spokesperson for the Middlesex District Attorney's Office Thursday. A 25-year-old Stoneham man suffered life-threatening injuries when a SUV struck him on Route 93 northbound just south of Exit 29 in Somerville Tuesday morning, according to a press statement by Massachusetts State Police. At 2:30 a.m., State Police in Medford responded to a report of a crash involving a SUV, owned by WHDH Channel 7 and driven by an employee at the TV station, and a pedestrian. "Initial investigation indicates that the victim, a 25-year-old male from Stoneham may have …

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National Weather Service: Rain, Snow in the Forecast for Stoneham

A wintry mix could make the Thursday morning commute difficult for drivers, and Massachusetts State Police are asking commuters to be cautious on the roadways.

Stoneham may see a mixture of rain and snow Wednesday night into Thursday morning and perhaps some freezing rain late, according to the National Weather Service forecast. With mixed weather in the forecast, Massachusetts State Police are reminding drivers to take these precautions when taking to the roads Thursday morning: Here are some phone numbers you will want to know in case an emergency crops up: List of town departments List of cab companies: List of tow companies: [Editor's note: Information from a State Police press statement was used in this report.]

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