News

Man in critical condition, after Ipswich crash

By Bruno Matarazzo Jr.
Staff Writer
Published: July 10, 2009

IPSWICH — A 24-year-old local man is in critical condition at Beth Israel Hospital, following a crash on Topsfield Road shortly after midnight yesterday.

Alexander C. Howe of 29 Hodgkins Drive, was ejected from the 1996 Volkswagen sedan he was driving when he crashed into a tree, police said.

The Volkswagen then struck a parked truck in the driveway and hit a garage.

"He did not have his seat belt on," police Lt. Dan Moriarty said. "We believe speed was one of the causes" of the crash.

Police received word of the crash at 12:05 a.m. from multiple 911 calls.

Howe was unconscious when first responders arrived at the scene; he was taken by ambulance to Beverly Hospital.

Moriarty said hospital staff wanted Howe to be flown by helicopter to Boston, but MedFlight was not operating last night due to weather conditions. Howe was taken to Beth Israel Hospital by ambulance.

A hospital spokesman said Howe was in critical condition yesterday.

The Volkswagen was totaled in the crash and the parked truck had damage to the passenger side. The garage's doors were damaged, Moriarty added.

Patrolman Ted Gallivan and Detective Eric Copithorne are investigating the crash, along with the state police accident reconstruction unit.