Press Release  Somerville Man Indicted for Murder in Wrong-Way Crash

Saugus, MA — A grand jury has indicted a Somerville man for causing a head-on crash that killed a woman while fleeing from police after robbing convenience store.  

This morning, an Essex County Grand Jury indicted WILLIAM LEGER, 35, on one count each of Murder, Manslaughter, Motor Vehicle Homicide, Unarmed Robbery, Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle (subsequent offense) and Operating with a Suspended License (subsequent offense).

On June 9, 2021 at approximately 10:49 a.m., Saugus Police were dispatched to 7-Eleven, 386 Lincoln Ave., for a report of an unarmed robbery. While on route, a description of the suspect’s vehicle was relayed to officers, and a Saugus Police officer subsequently located the vehicle traveling east on Ballard Street.

The officer attempted to stop the suspect, who fled and led the officer on a brief pursuit. Police immediately terminated the pursuit when the suspect turned onto Route 107 and began traveling south in the northbound lanes.

Approximately a half of a mile south, the suspect’s vehicle collided with another vehicle, killing Ashley Forward, 19 of Lynn.

The defendant remains held without bail and will be arraigned in Salem Superior Court at a later date.

Indictments are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

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