June 9, 2001
IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
CONTACT: Laurie K. Byrne at 617-722-2520 and Laurie.Byrne@state.ma.us

CANDARAS CALLS FOR AN IVESTIGATION OF TUESDAY MORNING’S FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE MASS PIKE

Boston, Massachusetts – Today – Representative Gale D. Candaras (D-Wilbraham) asked the Joint Committee on Public Safety to investigate the cause of yesterday’s tractor trailer accident on the Mass Pike that took at least one life. Citing the tragic loss of life as well as economic and commercial losses caused by the subsequent closure of the Pike, Candaras stated that this accident was “foreseeable and preventable.”

In the written request to the Committee on Public Safety, the western Massachusetts representative stated, “As the State Representative for the 12th Hampden District, I travel the Mass Pike often and observe the driving habits of trucks regularly. The driving behaviors commonly observed included speeding, tailgating at high speeds, weaving across lanes, forcing passenger vehicles out of a lane or off the road and “aggressive driving.” As the only major artery to connect western Massachusetts to Boston, the Mass Pike serves as a major commercial, tourist, and commuter route and as such, any delay or closure to this highway has a ripple effect across the Commonwealth.”

The closure and delay that followed the accident trapped commuters on the Mass Pike in both west and east bound lanes from anywhere between two and five hours. Eastbound traffic suffered delays as far back as Exit 9, Sturbridge. Candaras remarked that “thousands of individuals were inconvenienced and commercially disadvantaged. Airline and other connections were missed and opportunities were lost because of the delays. The overall effect and nature of the losses experienced on the Mass Pike on Tuesday morning will likely never be known. However, an investigation into the factors that caused this accident will provide details to prevent similar accidents from occurring in the future.”