Two Women Injured in Andover 3-Car Crash

Two women suffered minor injuries in a 3-vehicle accident on I-495 in Andover, MA.

The accident happened near the Route 133 exit at 9:45 am yesterday.

One of the drivers, Christine Leeds, 63, of Andover, was operating a Porsche when she collided with a Mercury Milan driven by Annielu Dewitt-Santini, 39, of York, Maine.

Both women were taken to Saints Memorial Hospital in Lowell for treatment of minor injuries, police said.

Their cars were damaged in the crash and were towed away.

The third driver in the accident, Carol Finocchario-Nerney, 41, of Manchester, NH, was not injured and was able to drive her car from the accident scene, the Eagle Tribune reported.

The accident is under investigation. No charges have been filed.

Lawrence Man and Methuen Woman in Car Crash

A Lawrence man and a Methuen woman were injured in a Sunday morning car accident near Calareso's on Main Street in Reading, MA, news reports said.

Their rescuers said they were "lucky to be alive" after an SUV, driven by the Lawrence man, struck a utility pole on the side of the road before 4:49 am.

The crash took down the pole, while at the same time knocked both the driver and his passenger unconscious. The Methuen woman, who it is believed was not wearing a seat belt, was sent under the dashboard in the crash.

The car was found on its side.

Both victims, whose names are not yet released by police, were taken to the Lahey Clinic.

The accident remains under investigation.

Methuen Teen with Meningitis Returns to School

A Marsh Grammar School student from Methuen that was diagnosed with viral meningitis a few days ago has returned to class, the Eagle Tribune reported today.

The Methuen school permitted parents to keep their children at home if they preferred, but there was no drop in daily enrollment since the news was announced earlier this week.

 

The Methuen announcement came after the death of a Londonderry, NH girl due to viral meningitis. Londonderry High School junior Rebecca "Becca" Tenney, 16, died Sunday night at Children's Hospital Boston from complications of the illness.

 

There is no specific treatment for viral meningitis, which has flu-like symptoms. Most patients recover within two weeks.

Viral Meningitis in Methuen

A Methuen girl was reported with having viral meningitis prompting an alert to Marsh Grammar School students and their parents, the Eagle Tribune reports.

Mayor William Manzi confirmed that a girl, who was not identified, was diagnosed with viral meningitis.

Manzi, who also is chairman of the Methuen School Committee, said "It is serious, and we take it seriously and we need to take all the proper steps to make sure it's contained."

Only a couple of days ago, on Sunday, a Londonderry High School junior, Rebecca Tenney, 16, died as a result of complications of viral meningitis at Children's Hospital in Boston.

Viral meningitis is an infection of the fluid in the spinal cord and around the brain. Health officials said viral meningitis is generally less severe than bacterial meningitis and is usually resolved without specific treatment.

The symptoms for meningitis are similar to the flu and include fever, severe and constant headache, stiff neck or neck pain, nausea and vomiting and rash. Also look for changes in behavior, such as confusion, sleepiness, and trouble waking up.

Viral meningitis can be spread through saliva or feces. Frequent hand washing with soap and water is advised to prevent spreading meningitis viruses. The use of alcohol-based hand rubs or gels can also help.

Do not sharing food, drinks or eating utensils with other people, as viruses and bacteria in the saliva can be spread from person to person. 

Please visit the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Immunization website, as well as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Why Should I Take Pictures After An Accident?

Immediately following an accident, shock and confusion often override common sense. But if you want to ensure recovery of expenses from the negligent party in your accident, you absolutely must document the crash site. Take pictures.



Thanks to modern technology, now every phone comes with a camera. It may not be pixel-perfect, but when an accident occurs, even a quick snapshot will come in handy if you ever need to prove your case.

Take photographs of all involved vehicles. Also, take pictures from various angles.

Photograph the street scene: traffic control devices (stop signs, yield signs, or traffic lights), skid marks, and any physical objects (such as guardrails or light poles) that were struck by a vehicle.

If possible, even photograph the other drivers, passengers and witnesses.

Also, if your phone or camera can shoot video, take a short clip of the entire scene. It will be extremely helpful to clearly depict the physical relationship between vehicles and objects.

Methuen Biker Injured During a Motorcycle Ride

A 38-year old Methuen man, Pascual Sanchez, was injured in last weekend's tribute ride in Newtown, CT, as he tried to avoid a car that came into his motorcycle's path.

News Times reported that it was not yet clear whether Sanchez was a participant of the ride or he just happened to ride along the procession.

Sanchez sustained minor injuries as he avoided colliding with the vehicle driven by Carol Rowe, 50, of Newtown. The driver allegedly tried to pull out during a break in the procession.

The accident occurred near the Hattertown Road intersection on Route 302.

Sanchez was treated at a nearby hospital and then released.

Rowe was cited for a stop sign violation, driving in the improper lane and improper passing among other traffic violations.


The 10th Annual Connecticut Ride United motorcycle ride, organized by the Uniformed Professional Firefighters Association of Connecticut was dedicated to Lt. Steven Velasquez and Michael Baik, who were killed while fighting a fire in July.

Methuen Man Faces OUI Charges in Crash

A motor vehicle accident in Methuen last Saturday, Aug 28, which left two Massachusetts women seriously injured was probably caused by drunken driving.

The 2-vehicle accident happened on Route 213 at the ramp from Route 113 in Methuen around 9 pm on Saturday.

One of the vehicles, a 2010 Ford Escape, driven by a Methuen man Steven Kurelko, 35, crashed with a 2000 Honda Civic, driven by a 52-year-old North Chelmsford woman.

The Honda driver was seriously injured and was airlifted by medical helicopter to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Her passenger, a 60-year-old woman also from North Chelmsford, was also seriously injured. Police did not release the women’s identities.

Kurelko was transported to Lawrence General Hospital with minor injuries.

He was charged with operating a vehicle under the influence. In addition, he faces charges of negligent operation and speeding.

News source: The Boston Globe.