Motor Vehicles vs. Buildings – Out of control cars have crashed into a dozen Saugus businesses and homes over the past two years

By Mark E. Vogler

Six times during 2023, drivers drove their cars into businesses or homes. At least six more incidents involving motor vehicles crashing into buildings have happened during the first 10 months of this year, increasing the total to 12 since Jan. 2 of 2023, according to accident reports obtained by The Saugus Advocate.

“Distracted driving is probably contributing to this,” Saugus Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli said in an interview this week, after reviewing his department’s accident reports.

“It’s one thing to be talking on the phone. Texting on the phone is another thing,” he said.

The motor-vehicle-into-building statistics appear to be high over the past two years, according to Ricciardelli. “But when you look at all of the reports, there doesn’t seem to be any real pattern you can point to,” the chief added.

“It’s not just elderly people. You have people of all ages involved in this,” he said.

The ages for 11 of the motor vehicle-building accidents (the driver of one car struck a building and fled) range from a 17-year-old girl to a 90-year-old woman. Two of the drivers are in their 20s, two are in their 50s, two are in their 60s and three are in their 70s. In the case of several of the drivers – including last month’s crashes into the Dunkin’ on Lincoln Avenue in Cliftondale and the CVS at 1075 Broadway (Route 1 South), police have notified the state Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) about the driver being an immediate threat.

“There are all sorts of circumstances why these accidents happen,” Chief Ricciardelli noted.

“When the driver can’t articulate why it happened, or if a medical emergency contributed to it, that’s a concern. And we would put in for an immediate threat [notification to the RMV],” the chief said.

Here is a look at the 12 accidents involving motor vehicles going into buildings over the past two years, based on a review of the accident reports and summary comments that Saugus Police made to The Saugus Advocate:

Jan. 2, 2023, Macy’s parking lot, 1201 Broadway (Route 1 South): A 74-year-old Winthrop man crashed into the glass front doors of Macy’s in his 2009 Lincoln at 2:06 p.m. Summary comment: The driver said the gas pedal got stuck, struck Macy’s door entrance.

From the accident report of Officer Nicholas Cardinale: the driver said that while reversing out of his parking space, his vehicle’s gas pedal got stuck. This caused him to lose control of his vehicle, which traveled over two lanes of traffic and a traffic island before colliding into the front entrance. The officer submitted “an immediate threat” report to the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

Jan. 18, 2023, Centerless Grinding, 192 Central St.: A 20-year-old Malden woman was in the parking lot when the car she was in crashed into the fence at Centerless Grinding at 8:41 p.m. Summary comment: stolen MV driven into fence of business.

From the accident report of Officer Jacob C. Roy: A male exited the vehicle wearing a black ski mask before getting into a gray Charger with a plate that came back stolen.

Feb. 19, 2023, Plaster Fun Time, 880 Broadway (Route 1 North): The unknown driver of a motor vehicle struck the front brick wall of the business and left the scene at 12:17 a.m. Summary comment: MV struck front of building then fled the scene. Officer Tyler DiFlumeri noted that the front brick wall caved in from the collision.

April 6, 2023, Ocean State Job Lot, 444 Broadway (Route 1 North): A 76-year-old Peabody man was pulling into a parking spot and crashed into the glass storefront of the building. Summary comment: Driver was parking in the lot and mistook the gas pedal for the brake pedal, striking the front of the building. Officer Thomas Wilson said in his report that he filed a request to the Registry of Motor Vehicles for “an immediate threat.” He noted that the driver drove onto the curb and crashed into the handicapped parking sign before accelerating into the storefront.

June 17, 2023, Elder Law Office at 5 Essex St.: A 78-year-old Malden woman was traveling around the rotary when she wound up crashing into the Elder Law Office. Summary comment: The car was struck by another MV, forcing it to sideswipe the side of a commercial building, causing light damage.

Nov. 11, 2023, King Motor Cars, Inc., 168 Broadway (Route 1 North): At 7:23 p.m., a 62-year-old Boston man traveling North on Broadway veered off the road at a high rate of speed and struck a parked car, causing both cars to collide with the front entryway of the business. Summary Comment: Driver veered off the roadway at high speed (reason unknown) striking building (heavy damage). Officer Stephen M. Poliskey noted in his report that firefighters and emergency workers freed the driver from his car and transported him to Massachusetts General Hospital.

The man was later charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, operating an unregistered motor vehicle and possession of a Class A substance. Investigators said they believe that substance was either fentanyl or heroin.

Police said the man apparently lost control of his Volvo SUV and crashed into the unoccupied sedan in front of the shuttered restaurant that once housed Boston Market.

April 30, 2024, Dunkin’, 42 Hamilton St.: At 8:15 a.m., a 52-year-old woman who was pulling into a parking spot drove through a wooden barricade and into the building, causing damage to the window and brick wall. Summary Comment: Driver said while attempting to park in lot, she lost control of vehicle, driving into the building. Office Jonathan E. Maes noted in his report that when the woman was asked what happened, “she stated that all she could feel was the vehicle moving forward as she was placing it into park.”

May 10, 2024, a home at 329 Central St.: At 3:43 p.m., a 90-year-old Saugus woman leaving the Rockland Trust drive-through accelerated at a high speed, running off the road and striking a fence at 329 Central St. and continued through the front yard before striking the left front corner of the house. She continued through the yard and struck a chain link fence at 333 Central St. Summary Comment: Driver was pulling out of lot, accelerated at a high rate of speed, striking corner of residence.

May 15, 2024, Lavender Nails at 1539 Broadway: At 9:59 a.m., a 60-year-old Providence, R.I., woman drove her car into the business. Summary Comment: Driver was parking in lot, accelerated and drove into building

June 30, 2024, a business at 880 Broadway, Suite C: At 5:25 p.m., a 17-year-old Saugus woman drove her 2029 Nissan into the front of the building while trying to slow down. Summary Comment: Driver was pulling into lot and related that the brakes did not work, striking building (minor damage). Officer David Harris said, in his accident report, “It should be noted that due to the rain prior to the accident, the roadway was wet.” The driver said she was attempting to slow down when her brakes were not working and she continued to press her brakes when she drove over a curbed area before colliding with the building. The crash caused a broken window and damage to the exterior wall of the building.

Oct. 11, 2024, Dunkin’, 35 Lincoln Ave.: At 12:18 p.m., a 56-year-old Lynn man struck multiple vehicles in the parking lot before crashing his 2006 Ford pickup truck into a cement trash can and guard rail. Summary Comment: Driver related that his vehicle brakes failed, striking multiple cars in the lot and then the building. Officer Alison M. Cooper noted in her report that the driver claimed to have mechanical issues with his brakes and was unable to stop.

But Saugus Police didn’t like the driver’s response to officers’ questions. “Upon investigation, that driver was unable to explain to officers how he had driven into the building as a result he was issued a citation for negligent operation,” the Saugus Police Department said in a press release about the accident.

“In addition, the driver was reported to the RMV as an immediate threat. As a result of that report, he will lose his right to operate a motor vehicle pending a hearing, the statement said.

Chief Ricciardelli noted a positive aspect to this incident. Dunkin’ didn’t receive enough damage to be closed for a long time. “It appears as though the bollard barriers did what they are supposed to do and prevented the vehicle from going into the building,” Chief Ricciardelli told The Saugus Advocate.

“The vehicle came to rest against the building and there was no structural damage. I know that the restaurant was open for business the next morning,” the chief said.

Oct. 12. 2024, CVS, 1075 Broadway (Route 1 South): At about 2:49 a.m., a 28-year-old Randolph man accelerated his 2016 Toyota and struck the building, causing exterior wall damage. Summary Comment: From parked position, driver accelerated forward, into front of building (minor damage). Officer Paulo Marques noted in his report that the driver left the area with property damage, but was later identified. Police issued a citation, and the man faces additional criminal complaint issues, according to the police report.