Police and Fire News

Four injured in Eastham two-car crash; Dennis, Barnstable crashes;

New overnight: Wellfleet man arrested after high speed chase
HARWICH - A Wellfleet man was arrested early Wednesday morning after allegedly leading police on a high speed chase on Route 6 eastbound. Police say 23-year-old Dustin Curley was driving a red Chevy Camaro when he allegedly began accelerating  after an officer attempted to pull him over near the Dennis-Harwich line. A high speed chase ensued and according to police, Curley's vehicle reached speeds of up to 140 MPH. After getting off at Exit 9 in Dennis, Curley eventually pulled over on Depot Street in Harwich and was taken into custody. He was charged with driving to endanger, failing to stop for police, marked lanes violation and speeding.  He was due to be arraigned in Orleans District Court Wednesday morning.

Top story: Four injured, two critically, in Eastham two-car head-on crash
Daytripper traffic gridlocked by crash

    ^{Two vehicles collided head-on on Rt. 6 in Eastham injuring 4 people, 2 seriously.}
EASTHAM - (Video included) Four people were injured, two critically Tuesday afternoon in a Route 6 crash shortly before 3 p.m.  The crash involved two vehicles, a white Chrysler Town & Country minivan driven by 87-year old Robert Caddell of Orleans and a black Nissan 300ZX driven by 19-year old Jamie Rees of Orleans. Caddell was ejected upon impact. Rees had to be freed using the Jaws of Life. Both were rushed to Cape Cod Hospital after Medflight was not available. Rees was later transfered to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Caddell later transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital both in critical condition.  Caddell's wife 80-year old Grace Caddell was admited to Cape Cod Hospital. A second passenger in the van, an 81-year old South Orleans woman, was treated and released.

The crash occurred by Governor Prence Road on Route 6 near the Eastham Tourist Information Booth.  Eastham Police re-routed traffic to Bridge Road.  Traffic was still tied up at 4:45 p.m for several miles. A regional crash reconstruction team is trying to determine the cause of the crash.

Scene photos by Tim Caldwell. Aerial courtesy of Microsoft Virtual Earth.

Bicyclist struck by car in South Dennis

    ^{A young Russian woman luckily escaped with only minor injuries after her bike was struck by a car.}
SOUTH DENNIS - A young Russian woman was lucky to have escaped with only bumps and bruises when her bicycle was struck by a car at the intersection of Baxter Street and Upper County Road in South Dennis around 10:50 p.m. Tuesday. The intersection where the collision occurred is unlit and the driver of the Toyota Camry making a left on Upper County from Baxter apparently did not see the bicycle and rider headed east toward Dennisport. Dennis rescue responded to the scene but the young woman (seen at right talking with police) refused treatment and transport to the hospital. Dennis police gave her a ride home.
Story and photos by Kevin Morley.

Firefighters douse basement fire in Falmouth
FALMOUTH - Falmouth firefighters were able to quickly douse a fire in the basement of a Rosemary Lane home shortly before 2 p.m. Tuesday. Smoke was reportedly pouring out of the front door when firefighters arrived.  No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

Car vs. fence and tree in South Dennis

    ^{A car hit a fence and tree in Dennis leaving it dangling at a sharp angle}
SOUTH DENNIS - A young woman traveling alone lost control of her Dodge Stratus as she was headed west on Upper County Road in South Dennis near Aunt Debby's Road. The vehicle crossed the centerline and hit a stockade fence, a utility pole guy wire - narrowly missing the pole itself -- and a large pine tree. Several sections of the fence were demolished and shattered boards were scattered across the yard of a nearby house. The absence of skid marks on the road or grass shoulder indicated that the driver probably did not apply the brakes at anytime before the impact. The driver was up and walking around after the crash but appeared to be in pain and was subsequently transported to Cape Cod Hospital by Dennis paramedics.
Story and photos by Kevin Morley.

Van vs. pole in Barnstable

    ^{A woman was taken to CCH with unknown injuries after this crash on Route 6A in Barnstable.}
BARNSTABLE - At 11:45 a.m. Tuesday Barnstable Police and Fire responded to a single vehicle crash with injuries on Route 6A at Braggs Lane in Barnstable. A Mazda minivan struck a pole on the driver's side and wound up on the side of the road with its front wheel ripped off. Rescuers had to take the female driver, the sole occupant, out of the passenger's side because the driver's side was destroyed. She was taken to Cape Cod Hospital with unknown injuries.
Story and photos by Frank Paparo.

Car vs. pedestrian under investigation in Sandwich
SANDWICH - Sandwich Police continue to investigate a car vs. pedestrian crash Sunday night.  39-year-old Rory Quintanilla of Richfield Springs, NY was walking on Ploughed Neck Road when he was struck by a car driven by 17-year-old Robert O. Savoy of Forestdale.  Quintanilla remains in Cape Cod Hospital in stable condition. Savoy's car veered across the road and struck a tree. Both Savoy and his passenger, 17-year-old Michael Clancy, were treated and released at Cape Cod Hospital.

Police seek vehicle that allegedly struck pedestrian
HYANNIS - At 2:15 p.m. Tuesday Barnstable Police and Hyannis Fire responded to Cromwell Court at 168 Barnstable Road.  A man reportedly limped into the manager's office and told them he had been struck by a car on Barnstable Road and that the driver of the vehicle had fled the scene. Hyannis rescuers packaged the man and took him to Cape Cod Hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening. Police issued an all points bulletin for a 4-door gray Mazda sedan wanted in connection with the reported hit & run.
Story by Frank Paparo. CWN file photo by Frank Paparo.