Aureo Alicea, 16, of Haverhill struck a 15-year-old boy while he was texting behind the wheel in Haverhill’s Lafayette Square and then fled the scene this past Wednesday afternoon just after 2:00pm. Police were able to catch up with him and Alicea has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury, texting while driving, and a number of other charges.
According to The Eagle Tribune, the 15-year-old was crossing the street when Alicea hit the teen with the red minivan that he was driving. Witnesses to the accident approached him and told him he had struck the teen, to which Alicea replied, “I’m sorry, I was texting.” The witnesses tried to stop Alicea from driving off, but he started to drive toward them before fleeing the scene of the accident. The victim was transported to an area hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. Alicea had been arrested over the past month for driving without a license and was to set to be arraigned on charges from the hit-and-run accident in Lawrence Juvenile Court yesterday.
Massachusetts Texting Laws
In September of last year, Massachusetts passed a law that prohibited drivers of all ages from texting while driving. There is a $100 set fine for the first conviction of a driver. Drivers who are younger than 18 face harsher penalties for texting while driving, including losing their license for a period of time and participating in court-ordered programs.
When a driver under 18 is convicted a second time for texting behind the wheel, he or she will have to pay a $250 fine and their driver’s license will be suspended for 6 months. If a teenage driver under 18 faces his or her third conviction for texting while driving, they will face a $500 fine most likely lose their license for 1 year. Adult drivers over 18 who text and drive face the same fines as teenage drivers under 18, but those over 18 will not have their licenses suspended or have to attend court-ordered programs.
When to Contact a Massachusetts Accidents Attorney
If you or someone you know has been seriously injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident in Massachusetts due to someone else texting while driving, BEFORE you sign any forms, talk to the insurance company or hire a lawyer, get this free Massachusetts accidents book to learn how to avoid making the 7 fatal mistakes after an accident.
Contact a Massachusetts accident lawyer with Kiley Law Group to find out about your legal options. Our car accident lawyers have 30 years of experience and successful track record of obtaining seven figure wins for our clients in auto accident cases, medical malpractice, child birth injuries, brain injuries, and other personal injury cases. Call 800-410-2769 to receive a free legal consultation. And while the call is free, the information may be priceless.
DISCLAIMER: The Kiley Law Group is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited within the article. If you were involved in this accident or a similar incident and have questions about your rights and legal options, call us at 800-410-2769, or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a legal evaluation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to all not-at-fault persons named in this article and to their family members as well.
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