05/11/2021 - WHITMAN, MASSACHUSETTS (PLYMOUTH COUNTY) - Around 1140 hours on the morning of Tuesday, May 11, 2021 the Whitman Fire Department was alerted by police officers working a road detail that there was a motor vehicle accident on South Avenue, near Dyer Avenue. Engine-243, Ambulance-249 and Car-3 responded. Companies arrived to find an SUV partially in a trench in the roadway with heavy front end damage after striking a backhoe at a work site. Whitman Police Officer Christopher Lee was working the detail, with two other officers, and noticed the operator of a vehicle was slumped over the wheel. When he attempted to check on the driver, the vehicle revved up and started traveling towards officer and the work crew, nearly striking him. Officer Lee quickly alerted the other officers on the detail and the workers on-site and advised them to get out of the way. All of the workers were able to exit the trench and get out of the way of the vehicle which struck a backhoe on-scene. The vehicle came to rest partially in the trench and smashed against the backhoe. Police officers assisted with medical care until the fire department arrived on-scene. The lone occupant of the vehicle was transported to the South Shore Hospital, with an additional paramedic on-board. The operator suffered non-life threatening injuries, and it is believed a medical issue may have contributed to the crash.
