81-year-old charged, deceased 14-year-old identified, in fatal Cape Cod crash

YARMOUTH, Mass. – The operator of the vehicle that struck a boat trailer August 30th, leaving a teen dead and others seriously injured has been charged criminally. Following an investigation by Yarmouth Police Detectives, Peter Richmond, 81, of Yarmouth Port, is charged with Motor Vehicular Homicide by Negligent Operation.

The teen who lost his life in the fatal crash has been identified as 14-year-old John Hughan of Norwell. He was working with his uncle on a boat trailer that had become disabled from a broken axle when the 2020 Cadillac Escalade driven by Richmond struck the trailer from behind.

Shortly after 1 p.m., Yarmouth Police received multiple 911 calls reporting a person was pinned between a boat and the vehicle towing it on North Main Street, just South of the Great Western Road intersection. Officers responded to the scene and Yarmouth Fire Department’s Heavy Rescue was requested.

A truck towing a boat trailer had pulled to the side of the roadway with a broken axle. Passengers had got out to attempt to fix it. A Cadillac Sport Utility Vehicle traveling South on North Main Street struck the boat trailer from behind, causing it to hit the people working on the damaged axle.

As a result of the crash, Hughan was killed, and two others were transported to Cape Cod Hospital.