Massachusetts man decides to face trial for fatal wreck

A Massachusetts man has withdrawn a plea to sufficient facts and elected to stand trial for his role in a 2013 traffic accident that left six people injured. The 19-year-old West Roxbury resident had accepted a sentence that would have sent him to prison for a year, but he reportedly changed his mind after viewing a video detailing the extent of the injuries suffered by one of the victims. The car accident occurred in September 2013 on the Arborway in Jamaica Plain.

The video that appears to have prompted the change of plea told of the severe injuries suffered in the accident by a 34-year-old man. The man was placed in a medically induced coma after the crash, and according to prosecutors, he is no longer able to stand, eat or communicate unassisted. Another accident victim, a teenage male, suffered traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries.

The teen is said to have been driving at speeds of up to 80 mph before the crash. He was 18-years-old and had only held a driver’s license for three months at the time. The teen lost control of his SUV after striking the median strip. The vehicle then rolled onto an oncoming pickup truck.

This case demonstrates how being involved in a car accident can be a life-changing event. While some accident victims are able to return to work and go on with their lives, others are left permanently disabled. A personal injury attorney may pursue civil remedies on behalf of accident victims when their injuries were caused by a driver’s negligent actions. This litigation could seek damages for an accident victim’s long-term medical care as well as their property damage and lost income.

Source: Boston.com , “Teen Charged in Horrific 2013 Arborway Crash Withdraws Plea, Opts to Stand Trial Instead“, Hannah Sparks, November 15, 2014