Chief James M. Spinney
2 Olde North Road
Chelmsford, MA 01824
For Immediate Release
Sunday, May 19, 2019
Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Chelmsford Mother Seriously Injured after Child Accidentally Puts Vehicle in Reverse
Chelmsford Police Sgt. Jason Poor will be available to the news media at 2 p.m. at the Chelmsford Police Department training room.
CHELMSFORD — Chief James Spinney reports that the Chelmsford Police Department is investigating after a local mother was struck and dragged by her own vehicle after her child apparently put the car into reverse by accident while the mother was loading the vehicle.
Chelmsford Police and Fire responded at 10 a.m. to a house on North Road for a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. Upon arrival, officers found a woman suffering from traumatic injuries.
The victim, a 37-year-old Chelmsford woman who lives at that residence, was taken by ambulance to a landing zone and then transported by medical helicopter to a Boston hospital with serious injuries. The victim was conscious and able to speak to first responders, however.
The investigation thus far indicates that this incident was an accident and that the woman’s 9-year-old son accidentally shifted the car into reverse. The mother, who was standing at the open driver’s side front door, got caught inside the door and tried to dive for the brake pedal, but was pinned and then run over by the vehicle.
The vehicle continued down the driveway and crossed busy North Road, which is also Rt. 4, before it struck a rock wall opposite the house at a low rate of speed. The child was not injured.
“This appears to be a terrible accident. The mother sustained serious injuries but is expected to survive at this time,” Chief Spinney said. “Thankfully, the child was not also injured as the vehicle rolled across the busy roadway.”
The incident is under investigation by the Chelmsford Police Department.
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