RAYNHAM, MA : Police investigating Raynham chief’s involvement in car crash on Tuesday, November, 28th 2017

Police are investigating if Raynham Police Chief James Donovan hit a woman with his police SUV while responding to a multi-vehicle crash Tuesday morning, according to court records.

The crash, which sent six people to the hospital, was the end result of a chase that began in Easton.

Around 11:10 a.m., Tuesday, an Easton officer attempted to stop a Nissan Maxima for an inspection sticker violation.

Inside the car was the driver, Alexander Cruz, 24, of Taunton, and a passenger, Catherine Huertas, according to court documents.

Cruz sped away from the officer, toward Raynham, reaching speeds up to 80 mph, police said.

An Easton police supervisor called off the pursuit, but as Cruz crossed the town line on Route 138, Raynham police continued the chase, police said.

The chase ended when Cruz struck two vehicles at Britton Street and Broadway (Route 138).

After the collisions, Cruz and Huertas got out of the car, and Huertas fell to the ground at the corner of Britton Street, as stated in the police report.

Donovan, who was monitoring the traffic radio, pulled out onto Broadway from Center Street, according to the police report.

He immediately swerved to the right, driving his SUV onto the curb and striking a tree, as stated in the police report.

Next to the front left of his cruiser, laying on the ground was Huertas, who he began to tend to.

Huertas said she was struck by Donovan’s SUV, according to police reports.

“Subsequent efforts by police to follow-up with Ms. Huertas have not yet been successful,” Megan Borges, a spokesperson for the Bristol District Attorney’s office, said Wednesday. “Based upon a preliminary review of the evidence available, it does not appear that Ms. Huertas was struck by the cruiser, but this issue remains under investigation.”

Huertas was transported by medical helicopter to Massachusetts General Hospital with severe injuries.

In addition, five others, including a mother, a 4-year-old, a 3-month-old, Cruz and Donovan, were transported to surrounding hospitals with minor injuries. Police have not released the names of the other victims.

A police dispatcher said Donovan had been working early Tuesday but was not in the office after the crash. When asked if he was at work Wednesday the dispatcher said they had not seen him.

The Enterprise attempted to obtain surveillance video from multiple businesses surrounding the crash scene, but they refused, saying police told them not to give video to the media.

The crash remains under investigation.

Source :
Police investigating Raynham chief’s involvement in car crash