BLAZE: Pickup crashes into tree, bursts into flames… juvenile male...

CENTERVILLE – DEVELOPING – The juvenile male driver who escaped a fiery crash was reportedly not seriously injured and lucky to be alive…

At about 12:19AM, Barnstable Police rushed to Great Marsh Road for a report of a MVA where a truck crashed into a tree and caused it to fall across the roadway. The vehicle then burst into flames. Miraculously the young male driver escaped relatively unharmed.

The following video highlights firefighters arriving at the scene and battling the stubborn blaze. The video also shows the driver doing a field sobriety test. He was very unstable on his feet and appeared highly intoxicated. Due to his young age and condition he was transported to CCH.

According to sources, it appears likely the juvenile will receive criminal charges and be summonsed into court. (An unofficial source reports the driver is 17 years of age.)

The bottom line, the driver is extremely lucky nobody was killed.

HN will provide updates when they become available.

UPDATE – 10/24/15 – 12:20PM: HN has received word that a witness came along and pried the truck’s door open. He also helped remove the driver’s seatbelt… actions which very likely saved this young man’s life! HN will further update this information once confirmed…

[Press play… select HD in the settings and enlarge player for best quality…]

UPDATE – 10/24/2015 – 1:10PM – The following are three recent emails from “Barnstable High School” students:

1. Good morning RJ,

My name is XXXXX XXXXX, a student of BHS, and a friend of the man who you posted a disgraceful video of this morning. I am not sure if you are within your legal limits as he is a minor and his face is not blurred. All legalities aside, I am good friends with this kid and you and I both know that this will ruin his life. I understand that it is good news but sometimes morals come before everything. I, and the rest of Barnstable High School am kindly requesting that you take the video down out of respect of the minor involved. Thank you for your consideration.

2. I am a friend of the 17 year old who was in lastnight’s drunk driving accident. If you ask anyone at Barnstable high school, they would tell you he is the most innocent kid ever. He never goes out and always does the right thing. This was literally the second time he went out this entire school year and he made a stupid mistake. Now he is facing the legal punishments of it but I don’t think he should have to deal with the effects of that video. The kid has a future but now he will have to live in the shadow of that video for the rest of his life. I know it’s your job to report things like this but on behalf of many Barnstable high school students, we are asking you to please do what needs to be done to remove the video.

3. Good morning RJ,

My name is XXXX XXXXX, a student of BHS, and a friend of the man who you posted a disgraceful video of this morning. I am not sure if you are within your legal limits as he is a minor and his face is not blurred. All legalities aside, I am good friends with this kid and you and I both know that this will ruin his life. I understand that it is good news but sometimes morals come before everything. I, and the rest of Barnstable High School am kindly requesting that you take the video down out of respect of the minor involved. Thank you for your consideration.

Here is HN’s official reply:

Dear [friends of the driver involved in last evening’s crash],

Thank you for your feedback. The video will not be removed.

As someone who has had close friends killed in drunk driving accidents, in one case involving a Barnstable High School student and very dear friend, it would be irresponsible NOT to show this video.

This young man is extremely lucky to be alive today. Furthermore, he is also very fortunate he did not kill someone else.

In the case of this video, it appears as though the driver may have been highly intoxicated. If, however, he is found innocent of drunk driving, then I will consider removing some of the images and video evidence. [NOTE: HN has sometimes in the past eventually (after a period of time) edited or removed parts of a video if the individual owned and took responsibility for his/her actions… It’s rare, but has happened on a case by case basis.]

This young man may indeed be a wonderful person, but that is not the point. The images in the video are and should be the least of his worries today. I hope the video changes his life and the life of his peers for the better. I certainly hope the video changes this young man’s life forever, a life he is very fortunate to have today… and I hope the video depicts the consequences of alleged drunk driving. Most importantly, I hope it saves another student’s life.

Have a good one and please stay safe out there on the roadways.

Sincerely,

Robert Bastille, HyannisNews.com

UPDATE — Comments from a concerned BHS parent:

This is indeed an awful situation. As many have said this young man is a really good kid he’s a good student and comes from an upstanding family. That being said it doesn’t excuse his decision. Being a parent of a teen who happens to be very good friends with him this has hit much too close to home. The video shows what it needs to show. Every parent of a teenager should watch it and share it with their kids. If this helps someone else avoid the same or worse situation that’s all we can pray for. Also as parents we need to remind our kids that we know what they are doing we know they are going to do stupid things like drink and smoke but remind them they can call us or a trusted friend for a ride. Yes they’ll get lectured the next day but it will be alright. It’s better than the alternative as in this situation. Furthermore they should take his truck and place it on the lawn of BHS as a reminder and example as they usually do around prom season.

My love and thoughts are with this family as they now face the aftermath. Please parents and all you teens…take this very seriously. Be thankful he is alive and learn from his mistake.

10/24/2015

Robert Bastille,

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