Fatal Boston area accidents for 20-somethings on holiday weekend

Memorial Day reminds us of those who have fought and died for our country. Memorial Day will forever be linked to other deaths as well for the families of those who died in Boston area road accidents this year.

A pedestrian accident, a motorcycle accident and a single car crash each resulted in a fatality on the holiday weekend and a second motorcycle accident resulted in serious injuries. In two of those accidents, the at-fault person may be held liable for the personal injury or wrongful death of the accident victim.

According to news sources, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred at 3:18 in the morning, when a 21-year-old driving a pickup truck struck a pedestrian 22-year-old New Hampshire man who was walking on Nonantum Road in Newton.

There was no mention of alcohol, speeding or other factors that could have contributed to the crash, although it was reported to be under investigation. If the 21-year-old man is found negligent in some way, the family of the 22-year-old could sue in civil court for compensation for the wrongful death of the 22-year-old.

The second reported accident, in which negligence could be involved, is an accident in which a motorcyclist struck a police officer legs after rear-ending the officer on Route 1 in Revere. The police officer was not seriously injured and attempted to give chase to the motorcyclist who allegedly fled during questioning.

The 24-year-old motorcyclist crashed his bike a few minutes later and was seriously injured. He has been charged with several driving violations, and could also be held liable for the personal injury to the police officer.

A single car fatal accident in Cape Cod reportedly killed a 22-year-old woman from Wayland. Also during Memorial Day weekend, a motorcycle crash at about 8:40 on Reservoir Road in Otis killed a 22-year-old man. The causes of those accidents were not reported.

Looking at these accidents, all of them involving people in their early 20s, it seems as though they could be age related.

The Center for Disease Prevention and Control reports that about 12 percent of all fatal crashes involved drivers between the ages of 15 and 20. However, drivers between the ages of 21 and 24 were close behind at about 11 percent.

Sadly, the statistics rang true for several 20-somethings this past holiday weekend.

Source: Boston Herald, “2 die on roads in separate accidents,” Danielle Rivard, May 28, 2012