For Immediate Release
Monday, Dec. 30, 2019

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: [email protected]

*Joint Release* Taunton Police and Fire Departments Free Teenager Trapped in Car 

TAUNTON — Police Chief Edward Walsh and Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw report that the Taunton Police and Fire Departments responded to a local car wash after a teenager was pinned inside a vehicle by another vehicle yesterday.

The teenager was not injured by the crash.

At approximately 2:09 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29, Taunton Police and Fire responded to Prestige Car Wash, 13 Cape Road, Taunton, for a report of a motor vehicle crash.

Upon arrival, officers found a 2019 GMC Sierra pickup truck had backed up onto a 2013 Ford Focus, completely pinning the car. A teenage female from Middleborough was in the backseat of the Focus.

Firefighters used hydraulic tools to extract the teenager, who was the only occupant of the vehicle at the time of the accident.

After an initial investigation, police believe that a Middleborough man was putting floor mats back into the Sierra after vacuuming it, and a mat became stuck above the accelerator pedal. The car then accelerated in reverse across the parking lot of the establishment, crashing through the bay where another Middleborough man was manually washing the Focus from outside the vehicle.

The owner of the Focus was able to get out of the way before the Sierra backed into his car. The truck rode up onto the hood of the car, crushing it.

The owner of the Focus and the teenager inside were transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital for evaluation, but sustained no injuries.

There was significant damage to the walls of the bay, which is currently closed. The rest of the car wash is currently open.

Officers were thankful that no one was hurt during the crash.

“Considering the significant damage to the vehicles involved it is remarkable that no one was seriously injured in this incident,” Chief Walsh said. “We are grateful that everyone is OK.”

“We commend the work of the officers and firefighters involved for acting so quickly to rescue the teenager who was trapped in the vehicle,” Chief Bradshaw added.

The incident is being considered accidental and no charges have been filed at this time.

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