Middlesex DA: Watertown Man, 18, With Belmont Ties Killed In Moped/Vehicle Accident

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Photo: A Google Maps image of the location of the fatal accident involving a moped and a SUV in Belmont

An 18-year-old Watertown resident with Belmont ties was killed in a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of  Stults Road and Fairview Avenue at approximately 9 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 4.

In a joint press release from the Middlesex County District Attorney and the Belmont Police Department, a young man on a moped was first identified by Belmont Police driving “erratically” on the wrong side of Trapelo Road heading eastbound onto Belmont Street.

When Belmont officers attempted to stop the moped, the driver continued down Belmont Street before turning left onto Stults Road. It was at the first intersection where the moped ran a stop sign and struck a Honda CR-V, a compact SUV, travelling on Fairview Avenue.

It is still not clear if there was an active police pursuit of the moped at the time of the accident.

“The teen was transported to an area hospital where he was subsequently pronounced dead,” said the release. The driver of the Honda CR-V was also sent to the hospital with “minor injuries.” The man has not been identified by authorities. According to several local sources, the young man, who attended school in Cambridge, was the son of a Belmont town employee.

The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Belmont Police, Massachusetts State Police Collision Reconstruction Section and Massachusetts State Police Crime Scene Services Section are investigating the incident.

Driver Charged in Fatal Pedestrian/Vehicle Crash In Belmont

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Photo: Sachi Thanawala.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Belmont Police Chief Richard McLaughlin announced today, Friday, Sept. 21, that Raymond O’Brien, 45, of Medford has been charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in connection with an August 28, fatal collision in Belmont that took the life of Belmont resident Sachi Thanawala.

Based on the preliminary investigation it was determined that the defendant was not in possession of a valid driver’s license and subsequently not permitted to operate a motor vehicle. The defendant had previously been licensed to operate in Massachusetts; however, that license had expired in 2004.

This charge is an allegation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty, according to the DA’s office.

On Aug. 28, at approximately 8:25 a.m., Belmont Police responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash involving a pedestrian at the intersection of Lexington and Sycamore streets. Upon arrival, authorities located Thanawala, 39, of Sycamore Street, who had sustained serious injuries. Thanawala was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center where she died on Aug. 30. O’Brien, who was operating the vehicle, a 2015 Ford Transit Van, remained on scene.

Through their investigation authorities learned that the decedent was crossing the street at the intersection when the defendant allegedly turned left striking her.

This is an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, the Belmont Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section. The prosecutor assigned to this case is Assistant District Attorney Taylor Makson.