Published in the October 7, 2016 edition.
MELROSE — Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding two fatal accidents in three days.
A landscaper working on Howard Street was struck and killed by a motor vehicle Monday afternoon, Oct. 3.
Early Saturday morning, Oct. 1, a 51-year-old walking to work on Lynde Street was struck by a motorist. He also later died from his injuries.
In a press statement, Police Chief Mike Lyle said that on Monday around 5:30 p.m., police responded to 179 Howard St. on a report of a multi-vehicle crash.
Upon arrival, police found a vehicle, a sedan, on Howard Street on its roof.
Officers learned that the sedan was heading westbound on Howard Street when it collided with a truck and trailer that was parked on the road. At the time, a male worker was outside the trailer and was likely in the process of loading or unloading equipment.
The man worked for Stefano’s Landscaping of Saugus, according to information on a GoFundMe page set up to cover his funeral expenses.
Police determined that the operator of the sedan struck the trailer and the man simultaneously. The sedan then hit an SUV that was heading eastbound on Howard Street and ended up on its roof. The three occupants of the sedan were transported by ambulance to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The operator of the SUV did not suffer any injuries but the vehicle sustained heavy front-end damage.
The landscaper was pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash remains under investigation by the Melrose Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis & Reconstruction Section and the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.
Police referred all questions to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. A spokeswoman said Tuesday that authorities were not identifying the victim until the investigation is complete.
In another tragedy, a longtime Melrose resident was killed after being hit by a vehicle on Lynde Street Oct. 1.
Melrose Police and Fire responded to the area of 70 Lynde St. at approximately 5:20 a.m. for a report of a person struck by a motor vehicle. Upon arrival, first responders located a male Melrose resident, approximately 51 years old. He was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries.
The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with police. No additional information is available at this time.
This incident too is under investigation.