FATAL CRASH: Police arrest alleged drunk driver after he struck two pedestrians… while driving Harbor Light Properties van… [UPDATED VIDEO AND INFO]
UPDATE: YPD Press release…
Yarmouth Police Arrest Drunk Driver in Fatal Crash who Struck Two Pedestrians
On Saturday, December 27, 2014 at approximately 11:43PM Yarmouth Police and Fire Departments were dispatched to Route 28 in the area of the Parkers River Bridge in West Yarmouth for a report of a motor vehicle striking two pedestrians with serious injuries.
Yarmouth Police Patrol Officer Sean Geary was the first Officer to arrive on scene, followed by Patrol Officers Kevin Antonovitch, Connor Burnham, Paulo Cruz, Richard Fichter and Patrol Sergeant Frank Hennessey.
Several additional officers subsequently arrived on scene to assist with the investigation including Deputy Chief Steven Xiarhos, Lieutenant Patrick Carty, Patrol Officers Gordon Gibbons and Nicholas Giammarco as well as Troopers from the Massachusetts State Police.
Officer Geary reported that he found a white male lying on his back in the middle of the roadway with serious injuries and not breathing but had a faint pulse. Officer Geary then ran over to the second victim who was a white female found lying face down over the fog line suffering from head injuries. She was able to speak and was being assisted by a citizen who had stopped to assist.
Officer Geary promptly returned to the male victim and with the assistance of Patrol Officer Antonovitch immediately began CPR.
After several more cycles of CPR the Yarmouth Fire Department arrived on scene and provided immediate advanced life support and subsequently transported the male to Cape Cod Hospital. The female victim was also treated by members of the Yarmouth Fire Department and also transported to CCH.
After both parties were removed from the scene, Yarmouth Police conducted a preliminary investigation which identified the driver of the vehicle that struck the two pedestrians who had remained at the scene.
The driver—who was operating a blue 2009 Ford Econovan E150—was interviewed and several signs of intoxication were observed. The driver also admitted to drinking earlier at two West Yarmouth establishments. Patrol Officer Geary administered a series of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests with included the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus—Walk and Turn—One Leg Stand—and Preliminary Breath Test.
The driver was determined to be intoxicated and placed under arrest and transported to Yarmouth Police Headquarters for booking.
Yarmouth Police Department Patrol Officer Gibbons, who is also a Crash Reconstruction Specialist and member of the Cape Cod Regional Law Enforcement Crash Reconstruction Unit, is conducting a crash reconstruction investigation. Yarmouth Police Department Detective Christopher Kent is conducting a follow-up investigation.
Members of the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Department provided Crime Scene Services and the vehicle was towed to the Yarmouth Police Department Headquarters by Silver Cloud Towing Company and is being held as evidence.
Unfortunately, despite all of the efforts of the First Responders and Doctors and Nurses, the male victim identified as KEVIN J REGAN AGE 62 of 228 SPRINGDALE RD – WESTFIELD, MA was unable to be revived and was pronounced dead at Cape Cod Hospital. The second victim, identified as LYNDA M CAVANAUGH AGE 62 also of 228 SPRINGDALE RD – WESTFIELD, MA suffered serious injuries and was flown to a Boston area hospital as is expected to survive.
The driver of the vehicle is scheduled for arraignment in the Barnstable District Court on Monday morning, December 29, 2014.
Anyone with information about this crash is asked to contact Yarmouth Police Detective Christopher Kent at 508.775.0445.
This is the second fatal crash in Yarmouth with 24 hours. Both crashes involved alcoholic beverage usage.
The Yarmouth Police Department reminds everyone to never drink and drive or be inside a vehicle in which the driver has been consuming alcoholic beverages.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of everyone involved.
Refer To Arrest: 14-1722-AR
Arrest: PAUL G. DENNEHY
Address: 14 ROADS END SOUTH YARMOUTH, MA
Age: 55
Charges: MOTOR VEHICLE HOMICIDE OUI LIQUOR
OUI LIQUOR WITH SERIOUS INJURY
Booking photo:
UPDATED VIDEO: The following video highlights police and firefighters doing their best to save the lives of the victims… you can also see the scene was foggy due to the nearby water and warmer weather… HN documented the entire scene from right after police arriving and prior to rescue… the raw footage was graphic so it needed to be blocked and removed at certain parts of the frame… but you can still see how hard police and rescue worked in their rescue efforts… WARNING: Some may find the footage disturbing. It was a tragic and emotionally charged scene. There is ambient sound and reactions from bystanders. Viewer discretion is strongly advised. [Press play… select HD in the settings…]
Initial HN coverage:
YARMOUTH – Two pedestrians were seriously injured while crossing Route 28 between Captain Parker’s Pub and the Pier 7 Condos, just over the Parker River bridge last evening.
At about 10:42pm, Saturday evening, Yarmouth Police and rescue attempted to save the lives of two pedestrians found in the roadway. The pedestrians were apparently struck by a Harbor Light Properties van. The driver and passenger of the van remained at the scene.
One of the pedestrians, a middle-age male, was not conscious and first responders took turns giving CPR while treating his wounds (see video). His injures were very serious and he was not responsive when placed into the ambulance. He was rushed to CCH and his current condition is unknown.
The other pedestrian, a female who appeared to be in her early 60s, was seriously injured but able to communicate with police and rescue. She was placed in a second ambulance and taken to CCH.
The driver of the Harbor Light Properties van was reportedly a female (but that has yet to be officially confirmed… stay tuned for press release…). UPDATE: The actual driver turned out to be the male in the vehicle… The female was the passenger and extremely distraught (see video).
According to sources, the driver was arrested.
The accident was still under investigation at the time of this report and specific charges were unavailable.
HN learned the YPD will be issuing a press release sometime later in the morning.
Police detectives and an accident reconstruction team are working the case…
The male driver comforted the female passenger at the scene. It appeared they could have been related. (One unofficial source told HN they may be husband and wife, and both employees of Harbor Light Properties… the source also believes the photos of the driver and passenger are on the Harbor Light Properties website… Click here to visit that page…)
The condition of both victims is unknown at this time…
It was a foggy scene and Route 28 was closed down for about 2 hours…
Stay tuned for updates…
UPDATED VIDEO: The following video highlights police and firefighters doing their best to save the lives of the victims… you can also see the scene was foggy due to the nearby water and warmer weather… HN documented the entire scene from right after police arriving and prior to rescue… the raw footage was graphic so it needed to be blocked and removed at certain parts of the frame… but you can still see how hard police and rescue worked in their rescue efforts… WARNING: Some may find the footage disturbing. It was a tragic and emotionally charged scene. There is ambient sound and reactions from bystanders. Viewer discretion is strongly advised. [Press play… select HD in the settings…]