Massachusetts man died doing what he loved, his family is looking for justice

CAMBRIDGE – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Cambridge Police Commissioner Christine Elow have confirmed an ongoing investigation into a fatal, multi-vehicle crash that occurred at approximately 1:15 a.m. on Friday at the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Vassar Street.

The preliminary investigation suggests that an SUV operated by Lauren Mullins, 32, of Roselle Park, NJ was travelling eastbound on Massachusetts Avenue near the intersection of Vassar St. The SUV allegedly struck a moped and subsequently struck an MIT Police cruiser, both of which were traveling eastbound ahead of Mullins’ SUV.  The operator of the moped, Daniel O’Neil, a 73-year-old resident of Boston, was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital where he later died. Mullins was arrested on-scene by Cambridge Police on charges of Operating Under the Influence – Liquor with Serious Bodily Injury and Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle.

At her arraignment on Friday, Mullins bail was set at $15,000, the defendant was ordered not to consume alcohol or drugs, not to drive, to remain in Massachusetts and to submit to random drug and alcohol screens.  During the defendant’s bail hearing, her bail was also revoked on a pending case out of the Boston Municipal Court. Following the death of the victim, the case has been advanced for a bail hearing which has been scheduled for Thursday.

According to an obituary, “Daniel’s life was filled with joy and adventure, and he will be remembered as a loving, kind, and compassionate man.  His wonderful sense of humor made him always fun to be around and his thoughtfulness knew no bounds. Daniel’s love for mopeds was more than a hobby; it was a shared adventure with close friends who formed a moped group, creating lasting memories.”

In a social media post, a family member expressed her frustration with the justice system.

“I’d like to understand how this dangerous woman was still out on the streets and hasn’t had her bail revoked despite the MANY many open and new charges in the last year alone. This seems like the PERFECT case for bail revocation, in a state that we know revokes bail for far less. Had she gotten the inpatient help she needed sooner, this could’ve been avoided.”

This is an open and active investigation being conducted by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, the Cambridge Police Department and Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section.