Photo: (credit: Anna Meiler/CBSBoston)
Belmont’s increasingly congested streets appear to have played a factor leading to an early morning collision between an SUV and an MBTA commuter train at the intersection of Brighton Street and Blanchard Road that left a women critically injured at 8 a.m., Friday, Dec. 9.
While MBTA Transit Police Superintendent Richard Sullivan said at a press conference “we don’t want anyone to jump to conclusions” why the black late model SUV was partially on the tracks, eyewitnesses reported in several media outlets the vehicle was stuck in heavy traffic and could not move when the crossing horns and lights were activated as the inbound train from Fitchburg to Boston’s North Station approached.
Despite the claims of witnesses, Sullivan said “preliminary investigation says that it was not a traffic jam” at the time of the collision.
(Anna Meiler/CBSBoston)
Sullivan said a 58-year-old female was operating the vehicle with her 10-year-old son and two brothers, 11 and 6, as passengers.
Unable to move off the tracks, the woman opened the car doors and removed her son and the 10-year-old from the car when the vehicle was struck in the right rear section. The car was violently spun around hitting the woman who sustained her serious injuries.
The six-year-old who was still in the SUV when it was struck was uninjured as were the 11 and 10-year-olds.
Sullivan said the woman was rushed to emergency care to Beth Israel Hospital. The three boys were also taken to the hospital as a precaution.
Belmont Police and Fire reached the accident scene minutes after the incident. Brighton and Blanchard were closed for approximately three hours after the crash.
Morning and afternoon traffic through Belmont has become increasingly congested as commuters bypass the Fresh Pond/Route 2 interchange and elect to cut through Belmont heading to and from the western suburbs.
I’ve been after Belmont police, Sargent Melhart in particular, for over a year to get a presence there at the rush hours and he blatantly ignored me; another Belmont cop told me to my face he only works 30 hours a week–this intersection is a death trap–try crossing it, and Melhart–do something each day please.
Mr. Mason,
In regards to your comments above, I would be interested in discussing your concerns outside of this forum. Please feel free to contact me at your convenience via email or telephone: 617-993-2574 or jmacisaac@belmontpd.org
Respectfully,
James MacIsaac
Assistant Police Chief
Traffic congestion or not, it is NEVER EVER smart to stop on train tracks. Ever.
Belmont needs to meet with the Zoning Boad in Cambridge. The more Cambridge allows for over-building in Fresh Pond, the more congestion on both Belmont and Arlington roads. Cambridge needs to be a better neighbor.