Despite effort from responders, one deceased in highway crash after vehicle splits pole, strikes tree in Massachusetts

A driver has died from injuries sustained in a highway crash in Massachusetts.

According to police, on Wednesday, at approximately 7:15 a.m. the Wellesley Police Department’s Emergency Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call reporting a traffic crash on Route 9 westbound near Cedar Street. The Wellesley Police Department, Wellesley Fire Department, and Cataldo ambulance were dispatched to the scene.

Wellesley Police Officers Tim Dennehy and Jacob Drapkin arrived on scene shortly thereafter. The officers found an SUV on Route 9 westbound that had struck a utility pole and also struck a tree. The driver of the vehicle was found to be unconscious and unresponsive. There was no one else in the vehicle, and it appears as if there were no other vehicles involved in the crash.

Wellesley Firefighters and Cataldo ambulance performed CPR and treated the victim with advanced life support care. The victim was transported to Newton Wellesley Hospital. The victim, unfortunately, was pronounced deceased at Newton Wellesley Hospital at 8:10 a.m.

The victim’s name is not being released at this time pending family notifications.

Route 9 westbound in the area of the crash had one lane closed for most of the morning due to the investigation and utility pole replacement. Wellesley Municipal Light Plant had several crews on scene securing the live power lines and replacing the utility pole.

Wellesley Police Officers that are specially trained in collision analysis and reconstruction began an investigation on scene. Lieutenant Scott Showstead, Sergeant Mike Lemenager, and Officer Mark Knapp are all part of the Wellesley Police Department’s accident reconstruction team and are the lead investigators.

The preliminary investigation has revealed that the vehicle was travelling westbound on Route 9. The vehicle left the road, striking a utility pole, and shearing it off at the base. The vehicle continued westbound off the road and then subsequently struck a tree where it stopped.

There were flurries while the crash took place, however, police gave no indication on whether that played any role in the crash.

Wellesley Police investigators will continue to gather information from the scene and from the vehicle to determine what happened. The investigation is ongoing.