One man dead, several others injured in Taunton crash

The Taunton Fire Department is reporting a serious crash today that turned fatal.

Taunton firefighters responded at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday to I-495 near exit 9, about 100 feet from the Norton town line. Upon arrival, crews had one car fully engulfed in flames and two other vehicles damaged.

According to Massachusetts State Police, Preliminary investigation by Trooper Nicholas Martin, discovered that a 2005 Toyota Camry, driven by Arnold Reda, 84, of Foxboro, was traveling north in the area of Exit 13 in Mansfield, when it made a U-turn and began traveling south in the northbound lanes. The vehicle subsequently crashed into a 2016 Mercedes GL450 driven by a 56-year-old man, who had three passengers, a 42-year-old woman, and 12 and 10-year-old boys, all of Foxboro. The adults of the Mercedes were transported to Rhode Island Hospital, and the juveniles were transported to Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence. All were reported to have non-life threatening injuries.

The Camry then struck a third vehicle, a 2003 Lincoln Towncar, driven by a 58-year-old woman from Weymouth, with a passenger, a 27-year-old woman from Foxboro. The driver of the Lincoln was not injured, the passenger was transported to Sturdy Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The Massachusetts State Police, Norton Fire Department, MassDOT and Taunton Police also responded. Norton Fire, Easton Fire, and Brewster Ambulance Service all sent ambulances to the scene as well.

I-495 Northbound was shut down entirely between exits 9 and 10 for several hours, but the roadway has since reopened.

The crash is under investigation by the Massachusetts State Police.