WPRO News
WESTPORT – Massachusetts State Police say 3 are dead after a head-on collision on Route 195 eastbound between Exits 10 and 11 in Westport on Wednesday morning.
Preliminary investigation by troopers indicates that a 2005 Dodge Caravan livery vehicle traveling westbound crossed the median and struck a 2007 BMW 328i that was traveling in the left lane on the eastbound side head-on.
Two occupants of the livery vehicle that crossed the median suffered fatal injuries, as did one occupant of the BMW that was struck head-on, a 23-year-old New Bedford woman.
Two passengers in the BMW, a 25-year-old man from Fall River and a male toddler from New Bedford, survived the crash but were transported to hospitals with injuries. The toddler was taken to Hasbro Children’s Hospital and the adult male to Rhode Island Hospital.
A third occupant of the livery vehicle survived the crash and was transported to Rhode Island Hospital.
The livery vehicle rolled over after the initial impact with the BMW. After the initial head-on impact, preliminary investigation indicates that a 2008 Subaru Outback traveling eastbound struck the BMW; the Subaru then caught on fire. The Subaru driver, a 27-year-old Vermont man, was transported to Rhode Island Hospital with minor injuries.
Two other eastbound vehicles also suffered minor damage from impacts after the initial crash. A 2001 Audi A4 operated by a 34-year-old Fall River man was struck by the livery Caravan. A Chevrolet Suburban operated by a 73-year-old Rhode Island man also suffered damage when it impacted one of the other vehicles. The A4 driver suffered minor injuries and was transported to Charlton Hospital.
The facts and circumstances of the crash, including why the livery crossed the median strip, remains under investigation by Troop D of the Massachusetts State Police with assistance from the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, State Police Crime Scene Services Section, and State Police Detective Unit for Bristol County. Troopers were assisted on-scene by Wesport Fire and EMS and MassDOT.
Traffic was backed up for hours on the highway. The State Police accident reconstruction section and crime scene unit are heading up the investigation.
