Boston woman faces homicide charges in 2018 crash that killed 22-month-old boy in stroller
BOSTON – A 64-year-old woman was arrested Thursday and charged with motor vehicle homicide for a horrific chain-reaction crash last summer in South Boston that killed a toddler being pushed in his stroller on his way home from the park.
Charlene Casey was set to be arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court for her alleged role in the July 25, 2018, crash that killed 22-month-old Colin McGrath, seriously injured his 4-year-old sister and hurt their caretaker. A grand jury returned an indictment last month.
At about 3 :30 p.m. that day, according to prosecutors, Casey was waiting in her Toyota Prius at a stop sign on one-way East Sixth Street at L Street, which carries two-way traffic and does not have a stop sign. A driver in the southbound lane L Street waved Casey on, but as she accelerated through the intersection she hit a van traveling northbound on L street.
The van's steering was damaged, forcing the driver to lose control and strike Colin, his older sister and their adult caretaker, who were on the sidewalk of L Street. They were coming back from the playground and were one block from their home, it was reported at the time.
Casey's arrest followed an "extensive investigation and accident reconstruction," prosecutors said.
Although the defendant was waved through by another driver, they contend Casey had an "unobstructed view" of the northbound travel lane on L Street. They noted no cars were parked along that side of the roadway because of street cleaning.
Prosecutors said it was determined during the investigation Casey was legally required to yield the right of way to traffic on L Street but she did not.
No one else has been charged in the crash.
People at the scene, including the driver of the van, rushed to the aid of the hurt children. Colin was rushed to Boston Medical Center where he died. His sister suffered broken bones and a lacerated liver, among other injuries. The caretaker who was tending to the children was not seriously injured.
“The tragedy of Colin’s death is compounded by the preventable nature of the crash that claimed his young, beautiful life,’’ District Attorney Rachael Rollins said in a statement, thanking her investigative team and individuals who provided aid to the children following the crash. "These efforts, and the support expressed by so many members of the community, I am sure mean a great deal to this family who is in the depths of grief."
In the wake of Colin's death, his family launched Colin's Joy Project, which seeks to build and improve play spaces and fund family-focused programming in the South Boston area, particular for families in need.
New speed limit signs – with digital trackers telling drivers how fast they're going – were installed in the neighborhood following the crash.
Reach Joey Garrison and on Twitter @joeygarrison.