3 people killed when out-of-control Jeep crashes at auto auction, 5 Investigates reports
Updated: 12:31 PM EDT May 3, 2017
BILLERICA, Massachusetts —
Three people died and more than a dozen people were injured Wednesday when a Jeep struck several people at an auto auction in Billerica, 5 Investigates has learned.
The crash happened just after 10 a.m. at the Lynnway Auto Auction on Charter Way, about 90 minutes after an auction was scheduled to begin.
The Jeep was in one of the facility's eight lanes when it suddenly accelerated and struck the victims, witnesses said.
Woody Tuttle, an auto auction employee, said the driver of the Jeep was trying to avoid hitting other vehicles when it struck several people who were standing between the lanes.
“I heard a screeching of tires, and, I believe, a Jeep Cherokee went flying by me. In avoiding the cars, whoever was driving this vehicle hit several people,” Tuttle said.
The Jeep then crashed through the side of the building.
“(The driver) avoided the cars, and went on to hit the people who were standing between the cars," Tuttle said. "Three (men) were on the ground being tended to. There was a woman who was crying, but she was standing up, and I saw two men on the ground who appeared to be dead."
Randy Miller, who was attending the auction said it appeared the vehicle was traveling about 40 mph.
“We heard a bang or an explosion. It was almost like a bomb. The whole place just went silent,” Miller said. “There were people just lying on the ground -- a horrific, crazy, tragic situation.”
Massachusetts State Police said there were "multiple victims," and more than 12 ambulances were called to the scene.
Lahey Hospital and Medical Center said it was treating six people injured in the crash, while Lowell General Hospital said it had three others.
"At this point, there is no evidence or information to suggest the incident was caused by an intentional or terrorist act. All evidence and information at this time suggests an accidental cause," State Police said.
The building has been evacuated.
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Car Crashes at Mass. Auto Auction; At Least 2 Dead
By Marc Fortier, Eli Rosenberg and Perry Russom
At least two people are dead and several others critically injured after a vehicle crashed into a wall at an auto auction site in Billerica, Massachusetts, on Wednesday morning.
2 Dead, Multiple Injured After Car Crashes into Building
A car crashed into a building in the area of 400 Lynnway Road in Billerica, Massachusetts, on Wednesday morning.(Published 2 hours ago)
Massachusetts State Police said they are assisting Billerica police and that "multiple victims" have been reported. They confirmed that there are fatalities, but did not say how many.
Detectives from the district attorney's office are also responding.
'Blood Everywhere': Witnesses Recall Car Auction Crash Chaos
"At this point there is no evidence or information to suggest the incident was caused by an intentional or terrorist act," state police said in a statement. "All evidence and information at this time suggests an accidental cause."
A spokesman at Lahey Hospital in Burlington said six patients from the car auction crash are there. He said the majority are in critical condition.
Chaos at Car Auction After Car Crashes into Building
A car crashed into a building in the area of 400 Lynnway Road in Billerica, Massachusetts, on Wednesday morning.(Published 2 hours ago)
Lowell General Hospital said they have three patients at their main campus. There was no immediate word on their conditions.
The accident occurred at 10 a.m. at the Lynnway Auto Auction on Charter Way. According to its website, Lynnway Auto Auction has been a dealer consignment auction since 1997.
Someone who was there told NBC Boston a Jeep Cherokee was inside the auction site and someone was moving it when they lost control and hit a wall. Witnesses said the driver was an older male, around 75 years old, and that he may have had a medical episode.
"It's pretty bad," witness Andre Fedorov said. "There was a loud noise, everyone started running. Just a car was through the wall, there were people on the ground.
PHOTOS: 2 Dead After Accident at Auto Auction in Mass.
NBC Boston
"It was definitely an accident," he added. "It wasn't purposeful."
Video from inside the scene shows people milling around the building as the injured are being attended to.
Aerial footage from NBC Boston's Sky Ranger helicopter shows dozens of firefighters and first responders treating injured people outside the building.
Family members of people who were at the auto auction have also begun to arrive at the scene looking for news on their loved ones.
Witness Describes Crash: 'Everyone Started Running'
Andre Fedorov described the moments when a car crashed into a building in Billerica, Mass., killing at least 2.(Published 58 minutes ago)
Police said the investigation is ongoing. No further information was immediately available.
A similar incident occurred two years ago at an auction house in Framingham, Massachusetts.
Multiple people were injured when a 78-year-old man who was driving a vehicle at the auction accidentally accelerated, striking numerous people and vehicles. Most of the people injured in that incident were not seriously hurt.