Whitman

Whitman Police Will Not Cite Van Driver Following Investigation into Incident at Railroad Crossing

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Whitman Police Department
Scott D. Benton, Chief of Police
20 Essex St
Whitman, MA 02382

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, April 10, 2018

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-742-3922
Email: ben@jgpr.net

Whitman Police Will Not Cite Van Driver Following Investigation into Incident at Railroad Crossing

WHITMAN — Chief Scott D. Benton reports that the Whitman Police Department will not cite or charge the driver of a school minivan that came within feet of being struck by a commuter rail train on Essex Street yesterday.

The investigation into the incident was completed Tuesday and it was determined that the driver did what he could to prevent being hit by the train.

At approximately, 5:15 p.m. on Monday, April 9, Whitman Police received a notification that a train nearly struck a van at a railroad crossing on Essex Street.

A video taken by a witness driving behind the van was obtained and reviewed by Whitman Police.

One Whitman student and an adult passenger, who is a monitor for the student on board, were being transported inside the minivan at the time. The van and the train did not collide and there were no reports of any injuries. The van is owned by North River Collaborative, a Rockland-based educational organization that specializes in assisting children with special needs.

On Tuesday, Whitman Police interviewed the van driver, his adult passenger and the witness who took the video.

After reviewing the interviews and the video of the incident it was determined that the van did come to a full stop at the proper marked line prior to the tracks, as is required by law.

As the driver began to roll forward across the tracks, the gates had already begun to lower down.

“This is something that, while rare, does happen every once and a while,” Chief Benton said. “Most cars just drive right across the tracks, but the vehicles that are mandated by law to stop prior to the tracks can sometimes get caught in sort of a ‘no man’s land,’ where the lights start flashing and the gate comes down behind them before they can get across the tracks. Thankfully he was able to maneuver the van away from the tracks to avoid being struck.”

One of the gates came down on top of the van. The driver tried to back up, but the school bus sign on the van’s roof caught the gate, preventing it from reversing out of the way.

To avoid being struck by the train, the driver turned the van to its left, parallel with the tracks.

The identity of the driver is not being released.

 

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Whitman Police Investigating Incident at Railroad Crossing Involving School Van

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Whitman Police Department
Scott D. Benton, Chief of Police
20 Essex St
Whitman, MA 02382

For Immediate Release

Monday, April 9, 2018

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-742-3922
Email: ben@jgpr.net

Whitman Police Investigating Incident at Railroad Crossing Involving School Van

WHITMAN — Chief Scott D. Benton reports that the Whitman Police Department is investigating an incident where a school minivan appeared to come within feet of being struck by a commuter rail train this afternoon.

One Whitman student was being transported inside the minivan at the time. The van and the train did not collide and there were no reports of any injuries.

“We are asking anyone who saw this incident to please come forward as we gather information about what happened,” Chief Benton said. “We are extremely thankful that no one was injured and that there was no collision between the van and the train. We are taking this incident very seriously and are actively investigating at this time.”

At approximately, 5:15 p.m. on Monday, April 9, Whitman Police received a notification that a train nearly struck a van at a railroad crossing on Essex Street.

A video taken by an individual driving behind the van has been obtained by Whitman Police.

In the video, the van is shown between the railroad crossing gates and is parallel with the train tracks. The 26-second clip shows what appears to be the last few cars of a MBTA Commuter Rail train passing by, coming within feet of the van.

Once the train went by and the gates were raised, the video shows the van backing up into the proper lane of traffic and driving away.

Throughout the video, the van had a school bus sign on its roof in the upright position, signifying that a child was on board.

The initial investigation indicates that the van driver stopped just before the tracks and that one of the gates came down on top of the van. The driver maneuvered the van off the tracks but was unable to get around the gates before the train came.

State law requires that all school buses stop completely at all railroad crossings between 15-50 feet away from the train tracks.

The driver has been identified by Whitman Police and is cooperating with police.

The van is owned by North River Collaborative, a Rockland-based educational organization that specializes in assisting children with special needs. North River Collaborative is contracted by the Whitman-Hanson Regional School District. The company transports students with special needs throughout the state.

It is unclear at this time what the van’s route was.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Whitman Police Department at 781-447-1212.

 

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*PHOTOS* Whitman Police Announce Fentanyl Arrest

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Whitman Police Department
Scott D. Benton, Chief of Police
20 Essex St
Whitman, MA 02382

For Immediate Release

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-742-3922
Email: ben@jgpr.net

Whitman Police Announce Fentanyl Arrest After Long-Term Investigation

WHITMAN — Chief Scott D. Benton reports that the Whitman Police Department has made an arrest after a two-month investigation into heroin and Fentanyl activity in the community and seized a large quantity of the deadly synthetic drugs known to be responsible for overdose and death throughout the region.

As a result of diligent investigative work by Whitman Police Detectives, JOHN A. TOWNSEND, AGE 31, OF BERKLEY was arrested Friday evening and charged with:

  • Trafficking in Fentanyl
  • Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class B Drug (Fetantyl)

 

During February and March, Whitman Police Detectives developed information concerning the distribution of opioids on the west side of town. On Friday evening, detectives observed what appeared to be a drug transaction in a driveway of a home near the intersection of Auburn and School streets. Officers conducted a traffic stop of a suspect vehicle after it rolled through a stop sign on Auburn Street near a local pharmacy.

The driver, later identified as TOWNSEND was arrested after an on-scene investigation.

Police recovered approximately 15 grams of a white powdery substance believed to by Fentanyl, materials used to prepare heroin and opioids, multiple cell phones, and $5,000 in cash during TOWNSEND’S arrest.

Fifteen grams of pure Fentanyl is, in theory, enough to cause several thousand overdose deaths.

“We are dedicated, as a public safety agency, to helping those suffering from substance abuse disorders recovery and take back their lives, but this case serves as a reminder that police will continue to aggressively pursue dealers and traffickers who profit from human misery and death in our communities,” Chief Benton said. “This case and the resulting arrest represent a terrific investigatory effort by our Whitman Police Detectives who removed an alleged leach from our community and likely saved a number of lives in the process.”

TOWNSEND is expected to be arraigned in Brockton District Court on Monday.

These are allegations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.

 

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Whitman and Hanson Police Investigate Threat Made Toward High School

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, April 6, 2018

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net

Whitman and Hanson Police Investigate Threat Made Toward High School

Police Determined There Was No Credible Threat

WHITMAN — Whitman Police Chief Scott D. Benton and Hanson Police Chief Michael Miksch report that police have determined there was no credible threat against Whitman-Hanson Regional High School after receiving an anonymous tip about a student that had been allegedly making threats.

At approximately 10 p.m. Thursday, April 5, Whitman Police received a message through their online anonymous tip program from a student that a 16-year-old student had been making threats to shoot up the high school.

Officers from Whitman and Hanson immediately launched a joint investigation into the matter and located and interviewed the student in question.

No charges have been filed against the student. He was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.

At no point were students or faculty in any danger. Out of an abundance of caution both police departments provided an extra presence at the school on Friday.

“I want to commend the student who demonstrated the courage to provide us with this tip through our anonymous tip line. Any comments about harming others will be treated with the utmost seriousness and vigilance. The safety of the students and our communities is our top priority,” Chief Benton said. “I would also like to thank Superintendent Ruth C. Gilbert-Whitner and Principal Jeff Szymaniak for their assistance every step of the way with this situation.”

Chief Miksch said, “Detectives made quick work of locating and speaking with the suspect and were able to determine that there was no credibility to the threats. Great work by officers from both Hanson and Whitman in quickly resolving this issue. We want to remind everyone that if they see or hear any suspicious activity to immediately report it to police.”

In an unrelated event, at 9:55 a.m. on Friday, the fire alarm sounded at Whitman-Hanson Regional High School and the school was evacuated.

It was determined that a trip switch on a sprinkler valve failed, causing the alarm to go off.

The students were let back into the school by 10:10 a.m. and were dismissed from school at 10:15 a.m. because they had a scheduled early release day.

Anyone with any questions or concerns is asked to call the Whitman Police Department at 781-447-1212, the Hanson Police Department at 781-293-4625 or contact school officials.

 

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