The driver responsible for a crash in Quincy turned himself in more than a week later and was ordered held on $100,000 bail after being charged with several serious offenses, including motor vehicle homicide and leaving the scene.

The crash, on Palmer Street around 12:30 a.m. on August 7, left an eighteen-year-old passenger dead and a seventeen-year-old seriously injured. The driver was also taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Destruction Evident, Speed Blamed

Quincy police have stated that speed was a factor in the crash. A witness is said to have estimated that the vehicle was doing around 70 mph in a 25 mph zone.

The damage done in the crash supports that idea: The victims were in a truck, which hit two utility poles, snapping one, hit and damaged a fence, and severely damaged at least one parked car. The truck ended up on its roof. Because of the damaged poles, power was temporarily lost in the area.

Treated, Arrested, Released

The twenty-two-year-old driver reportedly left the scene before police arrived, but he was found passed out in another vehicle nearby. He was treated and released at Boston Medical Center and at some point after the crash was arrested on outstanding warrants and later released. At the time, police said they would not charge anyone until they could determine who had been driving the truck.

A week after the crash, Quincy Police announced that the driver was wanted on multiple charges, and late the next day he turned himself in. During his arraignment, he stayed out of the public area of the courtroom, which some interpreted as an attempt to hide from the families of the deceased victim.

In addition to the high bail, a list of other conditions was imposed, including having no contact with the victim’s family, undergoing random drug testing, and wearing a GPS monitor if he makes bail.

Speed a Persistent Risk

Speed was a factor in 27 percent of fatal crashes in 2015, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, accounting for more than 9,500 highway deaths.

That’s unfortunately no surprise, as that figure has hovered around that portion of all fatal crashes for decades. It might seem obvious, but studies have confirmed that the chance for injury or death in a crash goes up rapidly when a vehicle is moving faster: In a crash under 20 mph, most will survive; but the chance of death goes up twenty times in a 50 mph crash.

Drivers don’t always have control of all factors relating to their own safety and that of their passengers, but speed is one thing they do.

Boston Car Accident Lawyer

When you’ve been the victim of a car crash, even when you were a passenger in a single-vehicle crash, you may be able to hold the driver accountable for their actions and recover damages for your injuries. This is especially true if the driver acted recklessly.

The team at Joel H. Schwartz, PC has decades of experience practicing automobile accident law, and we’re ready to give you a free consultation to discuss your case. Give us a call at 1-800-660-2270 or contact us online through the form below to schedule yours.