State Police Investigate Fatal Crash on Route 6A in Bourne

On Thursday, April 3, 2008 at approximately 4:30 p.m. troopers assigned to the State Police Barracks in Bourne responded to a three-vehicle crash on Route 6A (Sandwich Road) East of the Gallo Ice Arena in the Town of Bourne that resulted in two fatalities and one serious injury.

Preliminary investigation by Trooper William Bates indicates that 46-year-old Janet Sweeney of West Barnstable was operating a 1989 Ford Bronco SUV eastbound on Route 6A when her vehicle crossed the double yellow lines and collided head-on with a 2004 white box truck, operated by 39-year-old John Wales of Bridgewater, which was traveling westbound on Route 6A. After the initial crash, a 2006 Subaru Tribeca SUV, operated by 46-year-old Janet Montville of Buzzards Bay, collided with the rear of the box truck while traveling in the westbound lane. Sweeney, who was not wearing her safety belt, was ejected from the vehicle, suffered serious injuries in the crash, and was declared deceased at the scene. Wales also suffered serious injuries in the crash and was declared deceased at the scene. A passenger in the box truck, 41-year-old Lezito Filho, was transported by ambulance to Tobey Hospital in Wareham and later taken by medical helicopter to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston with serious injuries. Montville, who was wearing her safety belt, was uninjured in the crash. It is unknown if Wales or Filho were wearing safety belts at the time of the crash.

This crash remains under investigation with the assistance of the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, the State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section. The Bourne Fire Department, Bourne Police Department, and MassHighways assisted troopers at the scene.

Due to the investigation and vehicle removal Route 6A was closed between the Bourne Rotary and the Mid Cape Connector for approximately 3 hours.

No further information is available at this time. Please do not call the barracks directly.