Massachusetts State Police rescue two kittens from fully engulfed car, driver faces charges

A brief pursuit on the Massachusetts Turnpike this afternoon resulted in the arrest of a driver and the rescue of two kittens from her burning car by Massachusetts State Police Troopers.

According to Dave Procopio from Massachusetts State Police, at 4:07 p.m., Massachusetts State Troopers on patrol on the Turnpike eastbound in Framingham attempted to stop a gray 2004 Nissan Maxima that had no inspection sticker and whose owner had a suspended license. Procopio stated that the driver refused to stop and a cruiser pursued; she soon pulled into the Natick service plaza, but as Troopers approached her she sped away again and the pursuit resumed.

A few moments later the driver (and sole occupant), a 26-year-old Westford woman, pulled over in the breakdown lane in Wayland. As she did so her car began smoking from the undercarriage and then caught on fire.

Troopers removed her from the car. As they did so she flailed and kicked at them. Once she was subdued, she told Troopers that her kittens were still in the burning car, which by this point was fully engulfed.

According to Procopio, Troopers were not able to access the doors to the car because of the flames; the Troopers then smashed the car’s rear window and located the two kittens inside a transport cage in the car. They pulled the cage from the car in time to prevent the kittens from being burned or injured in any way.

When the woman was put into the back of a cruiser, she kicked at the windows. She also complained of pain. A Wayland EMS ambulance responded to the scene and transported her to Framingham Union Hospital for evaluation. The Wayland Fire Department responded and knocked down the car fire.

The woman remains at the hospital at this time. She will face charges that are still being determined, but are expected to include license and inspection sticker violations, failure to stop for police, and assault and battery on a police officer. Procopio said that her name is not being released at this time.

Troopers brought the kittens to an animal shelter in Natick, where arrangements were made for a member of the woman’s family to pick them up.