Marblehead, MA : Lynn woman killed in weekend crash in Marblehead on Saturday, January 28th 2017

A Lynn woman died Saturday after her car crashed into a tree on Tedesco Street around 7:20.

"One car hit a tree and ended up in the front yard of the house," said Police Chief Robert Picariello. "The driver succumbed."

The driver was Michele Durgin, a lifelong Lynn resident and popular educator and writer.

According to the police log, multiple calls came reporting the crash at 134 Tedesco and neighbors went to help. One resident stayed with Durgin who was semi-conscious. Police, fire, ambulance arrived along with Swampscott Police who offered traffic assistance and the Animal Control Officer because Durgin had a dog with her in the car.

Durgin was transported to Salem Hospital and the dog was taken to Atlantic Vet as a precaution. At shortly before 8 p.m. the Medical Examiner notified officials that Durgin had died.

There were no apparent skid marks in the roadway and it's still unclear if the accident may have been caused by a medical issue, Picareillo said adding that the incident is still under investigation.

"We just don't know yet," he said.

Picariello had never met Durgin but he said Monday he feel's a bit like he's lost a friend. Along with teaching at Pope John's High School in Everett Durgin also wrote feature stories for the Daily Item in Lynn and she was also the one who received the police log daily from Picariello.

"Every day I'd send off the police log and every day she'd answer me with a "thanks" or a "be safe" or maybe a "Go Pats," he said. "She did it religiously, without fail and I always thought it was the sweetest thing in the world."

He said he made a mundane task more pleasant because of her attention to that one detail.

Picariello said he always meant to tell her if she was ever in town to stop by so he could put a face to the name.

"But I never did," he said. "It was sad when I didn't get a reply to the log Sunday."

Source :
Lynn woman killed in weekend crash in Marblehead