In our personal injury law blog we normally refrain from filing articles about individual collisions, choosing to focus on studies or trends we see, and avoiding the sensational and tragic. However, as a Massachusetts wrongful death attorney and auto accident trial lawyer, we felt the need to report on a Haverhill collision which resulted in the death of a 55-year-old Danville man, with injuries to his passenger who was treated at the Massachusetts General Hospital after the crash. News reports from the Lawrence Eagle Tribune indicate that a 17-year-old was driving while texting on River Street in Haverhill last month. The district attorney’s office charged the youth with Massachusetts motor vehicle homicide and texting while driving in Massachusetts.
Allegedly, Aaron Deveau, of Haverhill, was driving a 2001 Chevrolet Malibu on River Street in Haverhill when his vehicle crossed the centerline and collided with a 1992 Toyota Corolla on the afternoon of February 20, 2011. The extent of the injuries on the passenger was not reported. The new Massachusetts law, Chapter 155 of the Laws of 2010 amends Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 90 which went into effect on October 1, 2010, sets a fine of $100 for anyone texting while driving. For a driver under 18 years old, the penalties include a 60 day loss of license and attendance in a driving class. The penalties escalate with additional offenses.