This very disturbing news from WCVB. Two dead, others injured after an SUV crashes into the West Newton Sweet Tomatoes.
SUV crashes into West Newton Sweet Tomatoes, two dead
by Adam Peller | Mar 1, 2016 | West Newton | 30 comments
Crazy Divers: Men be like...
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This is awful. My heart goes out to all involved.
This is awful. My heart goes out to all involved.
🙁 I have been hearing the helicopters for a couple hours now, first I thought it was the Clinton stuff…this is worse…
🙁 I have been hearing the helicopters for a couple hours now, first I thought it was the Clinton stuff…this is worse…
Helicopters still overhead. What a terrible tragedy.
Helicopters still overhead. What a terrible tragedy.
do we know anything yet about what happened?
do we know anything yet about what happened?
As many of you probably know, Tuesday evening, an SUV coming down Chestnut Street crossed Washington Street and crashed into Sweet Tomatoes in West Newton, which was full of customers. Two patrons of the restaurant were killed. Seven other people, including the driver, were taken to hospitals in the area, three of whom were in serious or critical condition. Utilities were shut off and some residents and businesses in the abutting building were evacuated due to concerns about a gas leak. The cause of the accident, which also resulted in extensive damage to the restaurant, is still under investigation.
I want to thank our first responders, and the incident response team and investigators who remained on the scene until late into the night, as well as Mayor Setti Warren, DA Marian Ryan, Police Chief David MacDonald, Councilor Jay Ciccone, and all of the other city and state officials who came to West Newton last night for their professionalism, caring and support. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this tragic accident, their families and friends.
Sweet Tomatoes, which is all boarded up this morning, is a favorite place to go for many of us who live or work in West Newton, and my heart goes out to the owners and everyone who works there. I know we all have a heavy heart today, and that some of you may know someone who was impacted by this tragic accident or that you may be directly affected yourself. Please, let us all be just a little bit kinder than usual to one another today.
As many of you probably know, Tuesday evening, an SUV coming down Chestnut Street crossed Washington Street and crashed into Sweet Tomatoes in West Newton, which was full of customers. Two patrons of the restaurant were killed. Seven other people, including the driver, were taken to hospitals in the area, three of whom were in serious or critical condition. Utilities were shut off and some residents and businesses in the abutting building were evacuated due to concerns about a gas leak. The cause of the accident, which also resulted in extensive damage to the restaurant, is still under investigation.
I want to thank our first responders, and the incident response team and investigators who remained on the scene until late into the night, as well as Mayor Setti Warren, DA Marian Ryan, Police Chief David MacDonald, Councilor Jay Ciccone, and all of the other city and state officials who came to West Newton last night for their professionalism, caring and support. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this tragic accident, their families and friends.
Sweet Tomatoes, which is all boarded up this morning, is a favorite place to go for many of us who live or work in West Newton, and my heart goes out to the owners and everyone who works there. I know we all have a heavy heart today, and that some of you may know someone who was impacted by this tragic accident or that you may be directly affected yourself. Please, let us all be just a little bit kinder than usual to one another today.
I just keep thinking about the victims. . . . . eating pizza with family and friends and then life changes in an instant. We are so lucky that we live close to great hospitals, but my thoughts and prayers remain with those who died and those who are injured.
I am thankful for the great police department and fire department we have.
I keep thinking of how this could be avoided . . .. a driver going down Chestnut Street, crossing (four?) lanes of traffic and driving through a local business. . . . inuring and killing people. . . . how did this happen, and how do we move forward in our community and still remember.
I just keep thinking about the victims. . . . . eating pizza with family and friends and then life changes in an instant. We are so lucky that we live close to great hospitals, but my thoughts and prayers remain with those who died and those who are injured.
I am thankful for the great police department and fire department we have.
I keep thinking of how this could be avoided . . .. a driver going down Chestnut Street, crossing (four?) lanes of traffic and driving through a local business. . . . inuring and killing people. . . . how did this happen, and how do we move forward in our community and still remember.
Our villages will be more vulnerable to traffic fatalities as more high rise buildings are built and traffic problems get worse. The Cherry Tree in W. Newton has seen accidents as well.
Our villages will be more vulnerable to traffic fatalities as more high rise buildings are built and traffic problems get worse. The Cherry Tree in W. Newton has seen accidents as well.
Colleen urban sprawl, not density increases fatalities. People drive slower in neighborhoods with more pedestrians, bicyclists and narrower streets. This is a very sad event, the causes behind it are yet to be given by the investigation.
Colleen urban sprawl, not density increases fatalities. People drive slower in neighborhoods with more pedestrians, bicyclists and narrower streets. This is a very sad event, the causes behind it are yet to be given by the investigation.
+1 on Lucia’s comment – traffic congestion prevents fatalities because people are forced to drive more slowly – not only because of the pedestrians, cyclists, and narrower streets, but because of all the other cars.
I do think that it might be useful to discuss the horrible impact of the automobile on our society. Is the moderate convenience of the automobile really worth the cost, in terms of:
– the tens of thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of injuries each year
– respiratory and stress-related health problems
– increased obesity
– environmental destruction
– widespread global conflict caused by its disproportionate and inefficient consumption of natural resources
– the wasted allocation of land resources (taxable and otherwise) for road infrastructure
– the unsustainable financial burden placed on governments and individuals
Is the accommodation of the automobile really something that should be given any priority whatsoever in this day and age?
+1 on Lucia’s comment – traffic congestion prevents fatalities because people are forced to drive more slowly – not only because of the pedestrians, cyclists, and narrower streets, but because of all the other cars.
I do think that it might be useful to discuss the horrible impact of the automobile on our society. Is the moderate convenience of the automobile really worth the cost, in terms of:
– the tens of thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of injuries each year
– respiratory and stress-related health problems
– increased obesity
– environmental destruction
– widespread global conflict caused by its disproportionate and inefficient consumption of natural resources
– the wasted allocation of land resources (taxable and otherwise) for road infrastructure
– the unsustainable financial burden placed on governments and individuals
Is the accommodation of the automobile really something that should be given any priority whatsoever in this day and age?
I would say we should hold commentary as to the role of the urban layout until we know more about the circumstances here. A poster on Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/48jbxx/west_newton_car_crash_into_resturaunt_with/), citing his fiance as a witness, indicated that he car came down the hill with hazard lights on and didn’t try to turn:
“My fiance was sitting at the light as it happened, driver was speeding down the hill hazards on and everything. Didn’t even try to turn… driving down the opposite lane and didn’t seem like he was actively trying to hit the cars in my fiance’s lane. Luckily also didn’t hit the cars head on on the street perpendicular either.”
Let’s find out the cause before looking for a solution.
I would say we should hold commentary as to the role of the urban layout until we know more about the circumstances here. A poster on Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/48jbxx/west_newton_car_crash_into_resturaunt_with/), citing his fiance as a witness, indicated that he car came down the hill with hazard lights on and didn’t try to turn:
“My fiance was sitting at the light as it happened, driver was speeding down the hill hazards on and everything. Didn’t even try to turn… driving down the opposite lane and didn’t seem like he was actively trying to hit the cars in my fiance’s lane. Luckily also didn’t hit the cars head on on the street perpendicular either.”
Let’s find out the cause before looking for a solution.
This is a horrific situation. Can we please refrain not only from speculation, but from trying to use this tragedy to make cheap points related to whatever our personal local issues are (density, high rise buildings, traffic, etc.)? And the guy who drove into the Cherry Tree was high as a kite on a Saturday afternoon, so linking that incident to increased density and traffic is a really cheap shot.
This is a horrific situation. Can we please refrain not only from speculation, but from trying to use this tragedy to make cheap points related to whatever our personal local issues are (density, high rise buildings, traffic, etc.)? And the guy who drove into the Cherry Tree was high as a kite on a Saturday afternoon, so linking that incident to increased density and traffic is a really cheap shot.
Thank you for the update Ted. Let us know if there is anything set up to help those affected by the crash.
Given that the driver is under criminal investigation I assume facts will be slow in coming to the public. It will be a while before we know the cause.
One thing we can all do is put down the phone while driving. As a regular bike commuter I get a better view of what drivers are doing behind the wheel. The number of car drivers I see talking on the phone, texting, watching videos, facebooking and otherwise not paying attention to the 3,000 pounds of steel they are controlling is terrifying.
Thank you for the update Ted. Let us know if there is anything set up to help those affected by the crash.
Given that the driver is under criminal investigation I assume facts will be slow in coming to the public. It will be a while before we know the cause.
One thing we can all do is put down the phone while driving. As a regular bike commuter I get a better view of what drivers are doing behind the wheel. The number of car drivers I see talking on the phone, texting, watching videos, facebooking and otherwise not paying attention to the 3,000 pounds of steel they are controlling is terrifying.
Terrifying, sickening, heartbreaking, shocking, sad, frustrating, unfair, unjust. Hug someone you love closer. Help the survivors. Thank the responders. Offer sympathy and empathy. Use the time that we have to wait for the investigation of the facts to evolve to consider the fragility of life and the micro-thin veneer of civilization and how much we value both. Say a prayer. Make a donation. Walk around the block. Don’t try to make sense of it. There is time for that later.
Terrifying, sickening, heartbreaking, shocking, sad, frustrating, unfair, unjust. Hug someone you love closer. Help the survivors. Thank the responders. Offer sympathy and empathy. Use the time that we have to wait for the investigation of the facts to evolve to consider the fragility of life and the micro-thin veneer of civilization and how much we value both. Say a prayer. Make a donation. Walk around the block. Don’t try to make sense of it. There is time for that later.
Tragic! My thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved. We need to collectively try to do anything we can to help both the families involved and those at Sweet Tomatoes deal with this trauma.
One victim, a woman, has been identified by her sister-in-law who said she received a text in the middle of the night saying her sil had been killed in the accident. Has texting become a proper way to notify family members of a death in the family? I certainly hope not!
Just want to add that I am terribly disappointed that anyone would use this thread to further political agendas.
Tragic! My thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved. We need to collectively try to do anything we can to help both the families involved and those at Sweet Tomatoes deal with this trauma.
One victim, a woman, has been identified by her sister-in-law who said she received a text in the middle of the night saying her sil had been killed in the accident. Has texting become a proper way to notify family members of a death in the family? I certainly hope not!
Just want to add that I am terribly disappointed that anyone would use this thread to further political agendas.
I just spoke with Mayor Setti Warren, who will be holding a community vigil tomorrow night in West Newton. Aaron Goldman from the Mayor’s office just sent out the following email invitation to the City Council:
“Tomorrow evening, Mayor Warren will be joined by first responders, clergy and community members for a vigil to honor the victims of yesterday’s tragic event at Sweet Tomatoes restaurant. This tragedy has touched us all, and we are offering this event as an opportunity for our community to stand together in remembrance of the victims.
“Please join us to show your support for the victims and their loved ones.
“The vigil will be held in the park adjacent to the Newton Police Headquarters, located at 1321 Washington Street in West Newton on Thursday, March 3rd at 6:30pm.
“We encourage everyone to come together to reinforce our commitment to each other and to our city.”
I hope to see you there.
I just spoke with Mayor Setti Warren, who will be holding a community vigil tomorrow night in West Newton. Aaron Goldman from the Mayor’s office just sent out the following email invitation to the City Council:
“Tomorrow evening, Mayor Warren will be joined by first responders, clergy and community members for a vigil to honor the victims of yesterday’s tragic event at Sweet Tomatoes restaurant. This tragedy has touched us all, and we are offering this event as an opportunity for our community to stand together in remembrance of the victims.
“Please join us to show your support for the victims and their loved ones.
“The vigil will be held in the park adjacent to the Newton Police Headquarters, located at 1321 Washington Street in West Newton on Thursday, March 3rd at 6:30pm.
“We encourage everyone to come together to reinforce our commitment to each other and to our city.”
I hope to see you there.