Police Seek Charges Against Driver In Fiery Car Crash

NORTH HARWICH – Two teens suffered life-threatening injuries and three more were hurt in a fiery single-car crash on Queen Anne Road Monday night.

 At around 10:45 p.m., Harwich Police Patrol Officer Jess Ferreira, who was at the highway department on Queen Anne Road, issued a radio report that a vehicle had passed her location driving around 70 mph, Harwich Police Lieut. Aram Goshgarian said. Officer T.J. Griffiths, who was further west on Queen Anne Road, reported that the vehicle passed him and was accelerating at over 80 mph at the time. He turned his cruiser around to follow the vehicle, and saw it leave the roadway, break through a guard rail and land in the woods near the power lines close to the intersection of Rebecca Road. The collision caused the vehicle to ignite, along with a surrounding patch of brush.

When police arrived, four people were outside of the vehicle. Griffiths used a fire extinguisher to knock down the flames, and he pulled the remaining female victim from the back seat. He and Ferreira provided life-saving first aid to the most seriously injured patients until Harwich firefighters arrived. When the first fire officials were on scene, the vehicle was fully engulfed. Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, which destroyed the car and scorched a small area of brush. 

 Harwich firefighters summoned ambulances from Dennis, Brewster and Chatham and called for two Boston MedFlight helicopters to airlift the two most seriously injured patients, a  female from Wellfleet and a female from Brewster. Those two were taken to Mass General Hospital, and the three others, all males from Brewster, were taken by ambulance to Cape Cod Hospital. In a news release, the Harwich Police Department announced that charges are being sought against the 18-year-old driver from Brewster.

 The victims range in age from 15 to 18, and their names have not been released. Their conditions were unknown. All are believed to be students at Nauset Regional High School. 

“We are deeply saddened by the car accident last night in Harwich,” reads a statement issued by Nauset High Principal Patrick Clark and Superintendent Brooke Clenchy. “Our hearts are with the Nauset families and students/alumni involved. Our High School counseling department is available, and actively supporting students who are in need of emotional support at this time. Our prayers go out to those directly involved, and their families, as we work as a community to support them back to health during this difficult time.”

 Harwich police are investigating the accident. 

 "There is no doubt in my mind that there would be at least one fatality in this crash if it was not for the quick actions and bravery of Officer Griffiths in removing the victim from the burning car," Police Chief Kevin Considine wrote in a news release. "Both Officer Griffiths and Officer Ferreira recognized the danger and provided immediate care to both occupants who were facing life-threatening injuries. Both are to be commended for their actions in saving a life."