State Police Investigate Fatal Pedestrian Crash on Soldiers Field Road in Boston

On Sunday, November 16, 2008, at approximately 3:09 a.m., Troopers assigned to the State Police Barracks in Brighton responded to a single vehicle pedestrian crash on Soldiers Field Road westbound in the vicinity of the Everett Street intersection in Boston that resulted in one fatality.

Preliminary investigation by Trooper John McCarthy indicates that 26-year-old Robert Finnerty of Charlestown was operating a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee on Soldiers Field Road, when his vehicle struck, 19-year-old Michael Riley of Cambridge, in the traveled portion of the westbound lanes. Mr. Riley suffered serious injuries in the crash and was declared deceased on the scene. Finnerty and the front seat passenger of the Jeep, 25-year-old Alex Saunders of East Falmouth, were both uninjured in the crash.
As a result of the preliminary investigation, Finnerty was arrested and charged with Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol.

This crash remains under investigation with the assistance of the Suffolk County State Police Detective Unit and the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section. The State Police Crime Scene Services Section and H&H Ambulance assisted troopers at the scene.

Due to the crash investigation, Soldiers Field Road westbound remained closed for approximately 3 hours.

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