MSP: Chain of events led to Raynham crash; second person has died
Raynham, MA (WLNE) – A second person has died after a wreck in Raynham. The accident happened at about 7:15 a.m. Tuesday on I-495 north, just before Route 138 (Exit 22).
Massachusetts State Police said on Tuesday that a woman driving a pickup truck had died at the scene. On Wednesday, MSP said a second person involved in the crash died overnight at Rhode Island Hospital.
MSP said a series of events led to the crash. Here is a breakdown of what investigators said happened:
They said a 28-year-old Halifax man was driving a tractor very slowly in the right lane and breakdown lane. The tractor is owned by Collins Crane and Rigging of East Bridgewater. The tractor driver was being followed by a co-worker, who was driving a Chevy Silverado pickup truck. The co-worker was a mechanic, 57-year-old Christopher Sheppard of East Bridgewater.
As the tractor continued in the right lane, one of the passenger-side axles got dislodged. The axle and attached tandem wheels rolled onto I-495. At that point, both the tractor driver and the pickup truck driver pulled over. MSP said Sheppard exited the pickup truck and walked onto 495, so he could pick up the axle and wheels. Investigators said several cars on 495 northbound stopped to allow him to retrieve the items. One of those drivers who stopped was 62-year-old Lauren Dyer of Braintree. She was driving a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck.
MSP said, at that point, a Volvo tractor pulling a dump trailer approached the stopped traffic on 495 north. MSP said the Volvo tractor hit Lauren Dyer’s stopped pickup truck. Investigators said the impact pushed Dyer’s pickup truck into both the tractor and Silverado pickup truck operated by the employees of Collins Crane and Rigging. During that chain of events, Christopher Sheppard was also hit.
Lauren Dyer died at the scene. Christopher Sheppard was flown by helicopter to Rhode Island Hospital. He died overnight.
MSP said they are continuing to investigate to determine whether criminal charges are warranted.
