Victims Identified in Pair of Fatal Crashes on Route 140
NEW BEDFORD — The victims of the two fatal crashes that occurred on Route 140 early Saturday morning have been identified.
Saturday morning at about 12:15 a.m., State Police Dartmouth Barracks received a report of a single-vehicle roll over crash on Route 140 Southbound approximately a quarter-mile north of Exit 4 in New Bedford, which resulted in the death of the operator.
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Joshua Pacheco indicates that 25-year-old Dylan Viera of Acushnet was traveling southbound in a 2005 Ford Escape when, for reasons still under investigation, he lost control of his vehicle and traveled into the cable guardrail on the left side of the highway and the vehicle began to roll over. At that point the operator was ejected from the vehicle and sustained a fatal injury.
Viera, the sole occupant, was determined to be deceased at the crash scene. Alcohol is believed to be a contributing factor in this crash. Route 140 Southbound was closed for 3 ½ hours while the investigation was being conducted.
Then at 2:40 a.m., State Police Dartmouth Barracks received a report of a multi-vehicle crash on Route 140 Northbound at the Nash Street overpass in New Bedford.
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Luke Bonin indicates that a 2004 Lexus ES 330 operated by a 21-year-old female from Fall River and a 2010 Buick Enclave operated by a 35-year-old female from New Bedford, had a side swipe collision. As a result of this collision, the Lexus went off the right side of the road into the woods and the Buick was stopped in the left lane.
The Buick was possibly disabled at this time with its lights off. A third vehicle a Nissan Altima operated by a 20-year-old male from New Bedford was traveling in the left lane and drove into the rear of the Buick. Both the Buick and the Nissan were now stopped in the left lane.
The passenger of the Buick, 39-year-old Ruben Vazquez of New Bedford, got out of the vehicle and attempted to cross the road to check on the operator of the Lexus, when a forth vehicle a Toyota Avalon operated by a 44-year-old male from New Bedford traveling in the left lane swerved around the Nissan and Buick and struck the passenger who was now a pedestrian in the roadway.
As a result of these multiple collisions, several people were transported to area hospitals. The operators of the Lexus and Toyota were both transported to Saint Luke’s by ambulance. The operator of the Buick was transported to Rhode Island Hospital by ambulance. The passenger of the Buick was transported by ambulance to Saint Luke’s where he was later pronounced deceased.
Route 140 Northbound was closed for four hours while the investigation was being conducted.
The cause of both crashes remain under investigation.