State Police Investigate Serious Crash on Route 90 in Charlton - Update

Young Victim Dies as Result of Injuries

A young boy has died as a result of injuries he sustained in last Thursday's crash on Route 90 in Charlton. The six-year-old boy from Cumberland, R.I., passed away last night at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester.

On August 20, 2009, at approximately 10:36 a.m., Troopers assigned to the Massachusetts State Police Barracks in Charlton responded to a two-vehicle crash on Route 90 West, the Massachusetts Turnpike, in Charlton, west of the Charlton Service Plaza. The crash resulted in serious injuries to the child and to the adult who was driving the car in which the child was a passenger.

Preliminary investigation by Trooper Gerry Johnson indicates that a 1995 Chevrolet Lumina operated by 30-year-old Joseph E. Tellier from Cumberland, R.I., was traveling in the leftmost lane, adjacent to the center median strip, when a tire blew out. The Lumina veered to the right, and when the driver attempted to correct himself, the car veered back into the far left lane. At this time, a Ford Escape operated by 67-year-old Ronald Fleury of Peabody struck the Lumina's left rear quarter panel. The Lumina came to rest in the center travel lane and the Escape came to rest in the far left lane.

The operator of the Lumina was partially ejected and suffered serious injuries. He was transported by ambulance to the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester. A six-year-old boy who was a passenger in the Lumina suffered serious injuries and was transported by medical helicopter to the same hospital. The operator of the Escape was not injured.

The State Police do not identify juvenile crash victims or disclose relationships.

This crash remains under investigation by Troop E of the Massachusetts State Police with the assistance of the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section. The Auburn Fire Department and the Massachusetts Turnpike Maintenance Department assisted Troopers at the scene.

Due to the crash investigation and landing of the medical helicopter, all three lanes were closed for approximately 15 minutes and the westbound left and center lanes were closed for approximately 2 ½ hours.

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