Citizens Apprehend Suspect Attempting to Flee 5 Car Accident

(video footage of scene in MULTIMEDIA section.  Please be patient as it loads automatically)  

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BARNSTABLE- At 7:04pm Barnstable Police, along with Barnstable Rescue, responded to what turned out to be a five car accident at the intersection of Route 132 and Huckin’s Neck Road. 

Just prior to arrival, police officers faced an even more complicated situation when dispatch notified that one of the operators was attempting to flee the scene on foot.  Initial radio-talk of calling in a K-9 unit and establishing a direction of travel became unnecessary when first responders learned that people involved in the accident had already apprehended the fleeing man.

Arrested on scene was Donald McDermott, age 53, of Centerville.  McDermott is being charged with Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Personal Injury, Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol (which happens to be his 5^th offense), Operating After License Revocation (revoked for a previous O.U.I. offense), and Operating to Endanger.

Airbags were deployed in at least two of the vehicles according to Lieutenant Richard Ogonowsky of the Barnstable Fire Department.

A man complaining of neck pain was carefully extracted from one vehicle, placed on a stretcher, and transported by Barnstable Rescue workers to Cape Cod Hospital for what are described as serious, but non-life threatening injuries. 

Meanwhile, accident investigators interviewed all of the many witnesses on scene.  A Barnstable County Identification Officer took photos and assisted with gathering evidence. 

Traffic was backed-up in both directions on Route 132 for as far as the eye could see. First responders worked as quickly as possible to cleanup debris and fluids from the road surface.  Vehicles needed to be removed using tow trucks.

At approximately 7:49pm, a Barnstable Police Supervisor reported that all emergency vehicles were clear of the scene and traffic was open in both directions.