Today the State Police Truck Team returns with another installment of the “What Could Go Wrong?” chronicles, highlighting all kinds of, ahem, dubious decisions made by drivers on our roads.

This little setup was observed the other day by a Trooper on the Truck Team (officially called the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section) on Route 93 southbound in Randolph. Whatever the word is for the opposite of meticulous attention to detail, it describes this. Two unsecured containers holding gas and several unsecured wooden blocks were being transported on an open flatbed trailer owned by a paving company.

The driver, a Cambridge man, was cited for unsecured load and a municipal ordinance violation. He was also found to be the subject of an outstanding warrant and was arrested on that charge.

“Just before 5 AM Saturday, Oct. 10, the State Police-Milton Barracks was notified of a wrong-way operator, driving north on Route 93 southbound, in the Milton area. Troopers responded to the area and found that the wrong-way vehicle, a 2008 Ford Escape sport utility, had cause a four-vehicle crash on the southbound side of the highway, prior to Exit 3, in Milton.

Preliminary investigation by several Massachusetts State Police units indicates that the 2008 Escape was traveling north on the southbound side, in the right middle travel lane, when it struck a 2017 Ford Escape driving southbound head on. The impact from that crash sent the 2017 Escape into a jersey barrier, while the 2008 Escape (the wrong-way vehicle) rotated and rolled onto its roof. The 2008 Escape was then struck by a 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300 sedan that was traveling southbound, the impact pushing the Escape along the roadway on its roof. The Mercedes was then struck from behind by a southbound 2020 Kia Sportage sport utility vehicle. The Mercedes and the Kia came to rest in the right middle travel lane.

The driver of the 2008 Ford Escape, Stephen Zorn, 24, of Stoughton, was determined to be deceased at the scene. The driver of the 2017 Ford Escape, a 29-year-old Plymouth woman, suffered serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to Boston Medical Center. The driver of the Mercedes C300, a 50-year-old Wrentham man, also suffered serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to Milton Hospital. The driver of the Kia Sportage, a 38-year-old Raynham woman, was transported by ambulance to Milton Hospital with minor injuries.

The facts and circumstances of the incident, including where and why the wrong-way operator entered the wrong side of the highway, remain under investigation by the State Police-Milton Barracks, the State Police Troop H Detective Unit, the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section. The crash necessitated the closure of all four lanes of Route 93 southbound for four hours to accommodate the rescue response and investigation.

A fifth vehicle, a mobile crane, sustained minor damage from striking debris scattered on the roadway as a result of the crash.

Troopers were assisted on scene by the Milton Fire Department, Fallon Ambulance, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.”

At 10:15 PM Monday, the State Police-Sturbridge Barracks received a report of a single-vehicle crash on Route 84 eastbound in Sturbridge. Responding Troopers found the driver and sole occupant entrapped in the vehicle. Sturbridge firefighters and EMS also responded and determined the victim to be deceased from injuries suffered in the crash.

The driver and sole vehicle occupant in this crash was a 16-year-old Newton boy. He was operating a 2014 Subaru Forester.

Preliminary investigation indicates that, for reasons still to be determined, the Subaru was travelling eastbound on Route 84 in Sturbridge at 10:15 PM when it veered to its right, struck the guardrail along the southern edge of the road, then traveled back to the left across all three travel lanes, and went off the northern edge of the road. The vehicle then traveled down an embankment and struck several trees.

The facts and circumstances of the crash remain under investigation by the State Police-Sturbridge Barracks with assistance from the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section.

EDIT: A video has surfaced of the confrontation. We have changed the headline and details based on the video.

Rayla Campbell, a Boston native, is a currently running for Congress against Ayanna Pressley, a member of the Massachusetts Republican Delegation 2020 and representative for the Massachusetts Black Voices for Trump Chair.

On Monday she attended a rally for President Trump and she got into a confrontation with two females.

Rayla posted on her Facebook account on Monday:

“I’m ok everyone. I appreciate all of your concern. I was involved in an incident leaving the New Bedford rally today that turned physical.

Two individuals, both female, physically confronted, and then assaulted me. I got kicked in the head and have a fractured tibia.

I’m sore, that is all. Other than that I have no idea about the two females, what’s transpired, or anything else and I haven’t talked to any media up to this point.

I’m heading home now finally, but thank you all for your well-wishes and kind words.” -Rayla Campbell.

The New Bedford Health Department is providing tips for a safe, healthy Halloween 2020 during COVID-19.

Halloween will look different this year, but families can still celebrate, and they can do so safely. Many of the tips are habits everyone has already adopted during the pandemic.

Here are some simple tips to keep in mind for Halloween this year.

Trick-or-treat safely by keeping good habits.

• Wear a mask. You can do this under a Halloween mask, or you can wear one with your costume if it doesn’t include a mask. Wear a mask at your doorstep or in your yard if you are outside during Halloween.

• Practice social distancing. Stay six feet away from anyone in your group. Don’t interact directly with trick-or-treaters.

• Provide your treats without making hand-to-hand contact. Instead of using a bowl to hand out goodies, separate them and leave them on an outdoor surface. Don’t hand them out, and don’t get close to trick-or-treaters or anyone outside your group. You can also provide hand sanitizer where you leave your goodies.

• Skip Halloween parties or Trunk-or-Treat events because of the large gatherings. Stick with small groups and stay outdoors.

• Keep your group small. Limit group activities to household members when possible. Carry hand sanitizer, and wash your hands well after trick-or-treating.

• Remember, some people will not be celebrating this year. Respect those who won’t be participating in Halloween this year. If the lights are off or goodies aren’t offered on the porch, head to the next house that’s celebrating Halloween.

• If you are feeling sick or have been exposed to anyone with COVID-19, stay home and don’t hand out goodies. Keep your lights off to let trick-or-treaters know.

You can learn more at the CDC’s Halloween page: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html or at the state Department of Public Health’s Halloween page: https://www.mass.gov/news/halloween-during-covid-19.

“Just before 3 pm yesterday, Ashland Police Department received a report of a missing autistic adult in the Ashland Town Forest.

The victim had become separated and lost while hiking with a parent. Sgt Alberini, who was on-duty as the Patrol Supervisor, responded along with members of both the dayshift and evening shift. After being briefed on the incident, Sgt. Alberini deployed K9 Ajax who immediately began tracking the victim. Within 15 minutes, K9 Ajax located the missing person allowing her to be reunited with her parent.

With impending rain and cool temperatures expected this evening, it was imperative to locate the victim before nightfall. Our community is extremely fortunate to have resources such as K9 Ajax available to us.

Due to a highly effective K9 program, today’s search resulted in a positive outcome. Great work by the dayshift and evening shift officers and Sgt. Alberini and K9 Ajax!”

The Lawler and Wilks branches of the New Bedford Free Public Library system and several city offices will reopen beginning Tuesday, October 13 with limited hours in order to provide in-person services.

The Lawler and Wilks library branches will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Limited browsing, with social distancing, and grab-and-go book pickup will be offered at the libraries. Lawler Library is located at 745 Rockdale Avenue. Wilks Library is located at 1911 Acushnet Avenue. The other library branch openings will be announced in the future.

In addition, three city departments will reopen to limited in-person services: the Health Department, Veterans’ Services Department, and Licensing Board offices will reopen from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, following other City offices’ limited hours.

Currently, several other offices located at City Hall are open to the public on a limited basis: the Treasurer’s Office, City Clerk’s Office, and Elections Office, all Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Access to the buildings will be limited Residents can call ahead to these or other city departments with any questions.

Clear directions will be in place to allow for safe social distancing in the buildings. Strong health and safety requirements are in place to protect residents and employees. In addition to mandatory mask use and social distancing, physical barriers have been installed to ensure the safety of visitors and city employees. Department staff have been trained on best practices to promote health and hygiene, and the building is being sanitized frequently.
Due to the pandemic, residents are still encouraged to pay any bills by mail, by phone, or online whenever possible. Payments can be made online at the City’s website, www.newbedford-ma.gov, and selecting ‘Pay Bills’ directly on the home page. To mail payments, residents can use the mailing address printed on their bills or mail their bills directly to the City Treasurer at the following address:

City Hall – Treasurer’s Office
133 William Street, Room 103
New Bedford, MA 02740

The City is committed to keeping all residents informed of the latest news. Follow the City’s social media pages, including Mayor Jon Mitchell’s and the City of New Bedford’s Facebook pages, tune in to New Bedford Cable Access on Channel 18, and visit the City website at www.newbedford-ma.gov for regularly updated news.
City departments are also doing business by phone or online. Residents are encouraged to contact other city departments for any services they need.

City of New Bedford – Department Phone Numbers

Assessor: 508-979-1440
Cemetery: 508-979-1550
City Clerk: 508-979-1450
Council on Aging: 508-991-6250
Election Commission: 508-979-1420
Fire (non-emergency): 508-991-6124
Health: 508-991-6199
Inspectional Services: 508-979-1540
Police (non-emergency): 508-991-6300
Traffic: 508-979-1766
Trash: 508-979-1520
Treasurer: 508-979-1430

Want to say goodbye to your electric bill? Here’s a look at locally owned Isaksen Solar doing a solar panel installation on Mike’s house.

Call (508) 567-0647, email rrego@isaksensolar.com or visit http://www.IsaksenSolar.com to see if solar is right for your home.

Lakeville Fire Department was dispatched to a motor vehicle crash on Route 18. Ambulance 2 responded with only one responder.

Ambulance 1 (with 2 responders) was already committed to a medical emergency and were returning from Good Samaritan Hospital at the time of the crash.

A recall was transmitted, bringing off-duty firefighters into work the crash scene. With call-back firefighters put to work, Engine 1 was able to respond and Ambulance 2 was fully staffed. Ambulance 1 eventually made the scene but was not needed.

An adult male was extricated from one of the vehicles and transported to Good Samaritan complaining of pain and possible bone fractures. Firefighters put down absorbent to remove hazards caused by the crash.

Lakeville Fire Department photo.