ReportWire

Tag: Vehicles

  • Police/Fire

    Police/Fire

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    In news taken from the logs of Cape Ann’s police and fire departments:

    Gloucester Saturday, Aug. 17

    8:40 p.m.: Police assisted the Fire Department with a lockout call from Harbor Village on Main Street.

    Noise complaints: At 10:39 p.m. on Patriots Circle which police could not locate; at 10:37 p.m. on Foster Street with peace restored; at 4:30 p.m. with a report of loud music in the parking lot on Lexington Avenue with peace restored.

    1:43 p.m.: Police responded to a report of a bomb threat on Great Republic Drive.

    12:58 p.m.: Service was made for a report of harassment on Lyndale Avenue.

    12:43 p.m.: Service was made for a reported disturbance on Washington and Rogers streets.

    9:06 a.m.: Services were rendered for a report of a suspicious activity on Railroad Avenue.

    6:15 a.m.: A vehicle reported as disabled was towed from the A. Piatt Bridge on Route 128 northbound.

    12:58 a.m.: Police arrested a 23-year-old resident of Greenbush, New York, on charges of operating under the influence of liquor and negligent driving after a crash with property damage only on Harbor Loop. Police arrived to find a light pole snapped at the base lying on the ground next to a Volkswagen that was partially on the sidewalk facing in the wrong direction head-on with a white Lexus. Both vehicles had significant front-end damage. A red Toyota Prius parked behind the Lexus also had front-end damage caused by the impact from the Volkswagen, the report said. Police determined the collision with the parked Lexus caused it to be pushed back into the Prius. Police spoke with the Volkswagen’s driver who told police he was not injured and refused medical attention. He told police he was driving down Rogers Street when his front tire hydroplaned, causing him to swerve to the other side of the road. Police saw the ground was clear and free of debris. Police noticed signs of intoxication about the driver and asked him to take a series of field sobriety tests, which the report said he failed. All three vehicles were towed. At the station, the driver agreed to take a chemical breath test, the results of which were above the legal limit, according to the report. Police gave him a notice that his license was suspended.

    Rockport Sunday Aug. 25

    Medical emergencies: Individuals were taken by ambulance to a hospital from Sandy Bay Terrace at 1:18 p.m., Cove Hill Lane at 2:04 p.m., and Summer Street at 9:55 p.m.

    6:09 p.m.: After a motor vehicle stop at the intersection of Thatcher Road and Water Tower Road, a written warning was issued.

    3:09 p.m.: A report was made about a neighbor dispute at a Phillips Avenue address.

    2:17 p.m.: After a well-being check was conducted, an ambulance transport was refused at a High Street address.

    1:18 a.m.: A noise complaint was made at a Broadway address.

    12:13 a.m.: The Fire Department assisted Gloucester during a fire call in that city.

    Saturday Aug. 24

    Complaints about noise on Station Square at 12:08 p.m. and Main Street at 10:50 p.m. were lodged. Station Square was investigated.

    Erratic drivers were reported on Broadway at 10:04 p.m., and on Breakwater Avenue at 10:29 p.m.

    8:15 p.m.: A report was made about an animal at a Granite Street address.

    Medical emergencies: Individuals were taken by ambulance to a hospital from a Lattof Farm Circle at 5:32 p.m., and South Street at 5:52 p.m.

    3:38 p.m.: After a report about an animal at a Granite Street address, Animal Control was notified.

    1:23 p.m.: A fire alarm was reported at a Broadway address, which was later determined to be false.

    1:13 p.m.: A report was made about an motor vehicle hit-and-run accident at a T Wharf address.

    9 a.m.: After a motor vehicle crash on Mt. Pleasant Street, a medical ambulance transport was conducted.

    Friday Aug. 23

    7:50 p.m.: Public Works was notified of bad road conditions at the intersection of South Street and Briarstone Road.

    Traffic stops were conducted on Thatcher Road at 9:08 and 9:26 a.m. and 1:34 and 1:46 p.m. The drivers were all given written warnings.

    10:14 a.m.: A medical emergency ambulance transport was conducted at a South Street address.

    7:59 a.m.: Erratic operation of a motor vehicle was reported on Broadway.

    6:21 a.m.: Suspicious activity was reported at a South Street address.

    6:10 a.m.: An alarm reported at a Jerden’s Lane address later proved to be false.

    Essex Sunday Aug. 25

    1:33 a.m.: Assistance was provided to a person at a John Wise Avenue address.

    12:54 a.m.: A person experiencing difficulty breathing was taken by ambulance to a hospital from a Grove Street address.

    Saturday Aug. 24

    2:21 p.m.: A person was assisted on John Wise Avenue.

    Friday Aug. 23

    Individuals were assisted on John Wise Avenue at 9:36 a.m. and 1:23 and 8:12 p.m.

    2:49 p.m.: A report was made about lost and found property at a John Wise Avenue address.

    10:53 a.m.: A community policing call was conducted at a Western Avenue address.

    Manchester-by-the-Sea Saturday Aug. 24

    10:21 p.m.: A noise complaint was made at a Beach Street address.

    Complaints about animals on Beach Street at 7 a.m. and Forest Street at 9:38 p.m. were lodged.

    Lost and found property was reported on Union Street at 10:38 a.m. and Beach Street at 6:25 p.m..

    12:53 p.m.: A fire alarm reported at a School Street address later proved to be false.

    10:45 a.m.: Assistance was provided to a person at a Masconomo Street address.

    9:46 a.m.: A report was made about a traffic hazard in the southbound lanes of Route 128 near School Street.

    Suspicious activity was reported at Raymond Street at 1:43 a.m. and Windemere Park and 8:48 a.m.

    Friday Aug. 23

    Police investigations were conducted at a Summer Street at 12:37 and 3:07 p.m..

    Individuals were assisted on Tucks Point Road at 4:49 a.m. and Summer Street at 2:14 p.m.

    1:12 p.m.: After a reported motor vehicle crash on Forest Lane, a patient refused an ambulance transport.

    10:45 a.m.: A report was made about suspicious activity at a Windemere Park address.

    10:34 a.m.: A report was made about a traffic hazard on Pine Street.

    3:09 a.m.: A welfare check was conducted at a Summer Street address.

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  • Police/Fire

    Police/Fire

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    In news taken from the logs of Cape Ann’s police and fire departments:

    GLOUCESTER

    Tuesday, July 2

    8:56 a.m.: A 911 call was made from Wishart Road.

    8:29 a.m.: Peace was restored after a report of a hold-up alarm at Gloucester Healthcare on Washington Street.

    7:42 a.m.: Police located several possible stolen bikes at the Greet Street Playground.

    7:19 a.m.: No action was required for a medical emergency.

    1:25 a.m.: A property check was made at the O’Maley Middle School on Cherry Street.

    Monday, July 1

    10:20 p.m.: A call to 911 was made and police responded to a past hit-and-run crash on Grant Circle.

    Motor vehicle stops: At 10:11 p.m. with a vehicle towed on Western Avenue; and at 2:08 p.m. on Essex Avenue.

    9:13 p.m.: A summons was served on Sunset Point Road.

    7:46 p.m.: A vehicle was towed after a report of a disabled vehicle prior to Exit 55 on Route 129 northbound.

    Medical emergency calls: at 7:29 p.m. on Grove Street, referred to another agency; at 2:32 p.m. at the CVS Pharmacy on Thatcher Road, referred to another agency; at 12:48 p.m. at East Veterans School on Webster Street; at 11:50 a.m. on Nashua Avenue, referred to another agency; at 11:50 a.m. at Andy’s Storage Service on Pearl Street; at 11:49 a.m. on Haskell Street; at 10:32 a.m. at the Harbor View Condominiums on Lexington Avenue; at 9:23 a.m. at Central Grammar Apartments on Dale Avenue; at 4:21 a.m. on Brightside Avenue; at 3:31 a.m. on Bond Street; and at 12:08 a.m. on Souther Road, referred to another agency.

    6:33 p.m. Vandalism was reported at East Gloucester Marina on Norwood Court. Services were rendered.

    6:14 p.m.: Police assisted with a report of an Amazon truck off the road on top of a tight tank on Bennett St. N.

    Crashes with property damage only: At 5:16 p.m., a vehicle versus a motorcycle on Barn Lane and Eastern Avenue; and at Dale Avenue and Middle Street, a call which was under investigation.

    Assist citizens: Service rendered at 5:13 pm. on Wolf Hill Summit.

    911 calls: Services rendered at 4:52 p.m. on Castle Hill Road; at 11:30 a.m., services rendered at Vernon’s Quarry on Hickory Street; and no action required at 1:51 a.m. on Norman Avenue.

    1:40 p.m.: Peace was restored after an assist of the Fire Department at Gloucester Auto Body on Maplewood Avenue.

    Well-being checks: An area search was negative at 1:09 p.m. at the Rose Baker Senior Center on Manuel F. Lewis Street; at 11:35 a.m. on Dublin Lane where peace was restored; and no action was required at 10:40 a.m. on Youngs Road.

    12:57 p.m.: Vandalism was reported at the O’Maley Middle School on Cherry Street.

    12:34 p.m.: Services were rendered for an abandoned vehicle on Laurel Street and Essex Avenue.

    12:32 p.m.: Police checked Jalapeno’s Restaurant, 88 Main St., where peace was restored.

    12:23 p.m.: Services were rendered for a parking complaint at Citizens Bank on Main Street.

    12:18 p.m.: No cruiser was available for a parking complaint on Cedarwood Road.

    11:41 p.m.: Police at the station took a report of harassment.

    9:56 a.m.: A crash involving a car hitting a pole was reported on Wheeler Street and Corliss Avenue. Police arrived to find a 2019 Volkswagen driven by a Gloucester man had struck the utility pole in the vicinity of 38 Wheeler St., snapping a secondary pole off of its base, according to the crash report. The power lines were transferred over to another pole and did not appear to be damaged. The car suffered major front and passenger side damage and had to be towed. National Grid and Verizon crews responded to make repairs. The driver refused medical attention from the Gloucester Fire Department.

    6:08 a.m.: No action was required for a report of a larceny on Youngs Road.

    5:37 a.m.: The West Parish Elementary School on Concord Street was checked and secured after a report of an alarm activation.

    1:18 a.m.: Peace was restored after a report of a suspicious person at Gloucester High on Leslie O. Johnson Road.

    12:31 a.m.: An area search did not turn up a report of a disturbance at Burnham’s Field on Burnham Street.

    Sunday, June 30

    Medical emergency calls: At 11:32 on Flume Road with the call referred to another agency; at 10:35 p.m. on Parsons Street with a patient taken to the hospital; at 2:17 p.m. at McPherson Park on Prospect Street, which was referred to another agency; at 12:38 a.m. on Essex Avenue; at 11:41 a.m. on Hesperus Avenue; at 6:50 a.m. at Addison Gilbert Hospital on Washington Street.

    11:15 p.m.: Police could not locate a report of a fight near the tavern on Western Avenue.

    11:02 p.m.: Police retrieved a hypodermic needle on Main Street.

    11:05 p.m. Peace was restored after suspicious activity on Wells Street and Commonwealth Avenue.

    Vehicle stops: At 9:03 p.m. on Exchange and Washington streets; at 12:49 a.m. on Rogers and Parson streets with a citation/warning issued; and at 12:26 a.m. at the intersection of Route 128 and Concord Street.

    9 p.m.: Debris was reported on Thatcher Road and Witham streets. The incident is under investigation.

    7:18 p.m.: A report of lost/found property was reported at the 7-Eleven on Washington Street.

    Parking complaints: No action was required for a 7:14 p.m. report on Foster and Washington streets; at 6:58 p.m., no cruiser was available for parked cars on Mason Street; at 6:43 p.m. at the Midori Restaurant at 32-36 Washington St.; at 5:09 p.m. on Essex Avenue and Julian Road; at 1:29 p.m. on Hovey Street; at 8 a.m. at the Eastern Point Lighthouse with no action required; at 7:18 a.m. on Prospect Street with services rendered; and at 6:40 a.m. on Granite Court with services rendered.

    Disturbances: At 6:50 p.m.: on Beach Court, was under investigation; at 3:15 p.m. at Wingaersheek Beach on Atlantic Street with peace restored; at 11:04 a.m. at Fisher Auto Parts, 14 Pearl St., with peace restored; and at 12:18 a.m. on Rogers and Main streets.

    6:17 p.m.: A car alarm activation report on Chestnut Street could not be located.

    4:48 p.m.: Traffic control was provided at Witham Street and Eastern Avenue.

    Crashes with property damage only: At 4:03 p.m. on Cross Street involving a 2024 Honda hitting a parked 2020 Subaru with no injuries reported and no tows required; at 1:52 p.m. on Eastern Avenue; at 11:54 a.m. with the crash under investigation; at 11:20 a.m. at the Richdale store at 410 Washington St. with services rendered;

    911 calls: At 3:56 p.m., two hang up calls from Washington Street; at 2:41 p.m. on Witham Street; and at 2:26 p.m. on Kennedy Road, with both calls referred to another agency.

    2:50 p.m.: Police provided assistance on Beach Court.

    1:05 p.m.: A vehicle was towed after police conducted parking enforcement at Wingaersheek Beach on Atlantic Street.

    11:18 a.m.: A false alarm activation was reported at City Hall on Dale Avenue.

    9:03 a.m.: No action was required for a report of gunshots on Washington Street.

    8:58 a.m.: The Drift Café at 3 Main St. was checked.

    6:55 a.m.: A building was checked after a report of a burglar alarm activation at Happy Valley Ventures on Great Republic Drive.

    6:25 a.m.: The Rose Baker Senior Center was checked and secured after an alarm activation.

    3:28 a.m.: A well-being check was made at 127 Eastern Ave., Building 2 (lower level).

    ESSEX

    Tuesday June 2

    7:26 a.m.: Assistance was provided to a citizen at a John Wise Avenue address.

    Monday July 1

    9:02 p.m.: A report was made about alleged theft at a John Wise Avenue address.

    8:28 p.m.: A report was made about suspicious activity at a Martin Street address.

    1:25 p.m.: A police investigation was conducted at a Lufkin Street address.

    10:59 a.m.: The Fire Department was dispatched to a Spring Street address.

    10:01 a.m.: A community policing call was conducted at a Shepard Memorial Drive address.

    9:39 a.m.: Assistance was provided to a citizen at a John Wise Avenue address.

    9:38 a.m.: Assistance was provided to a citizen at a John Wise Avenue address.

    9:21 a.m.: After a fire alarm was reported at a Grove Street address, the reported later proved to be false.

    MANCHESTER-BY-THE-SEA

    Monday July 1

    5:39 p.m.: A report was made about suspicious activity at White Beach.

    4:53 p.m.: After a motor vehicle stop at the intersection of Pine Street and Newport Park Road, a citation was issued.

    3:35 p.m.: A report was made about a motor vehicle crash on Beach Street.

    3:29 p.m.: A report was made about a motor vehicle crash on Beach Street.

    3:13 p.m.: A report was made about a motor vehicle crash on Lincoln Street.

    3:09 p.m.: After a motor vehicle stop on Bridge Street, a verbal warning was issued.

    2:47 p.m.: After a motor vehicle complaint on Tucks Point Road, someone was reportedly spoken to.

    2:14 p.m.: After a motor vehicle stop on Blossom Lane, a verbal warning was issued.

    1:59 p.m.: A report was made about lost and found property at a Central Street address.

    1:10 p.m.: A report was made about lost and found property at a Beach Street address.

    12:14 p.m.: A report was made about lost and found property at a Central Street address.

    10:59 a.m.: Manchester’s Channel Buoy 5 was reportedly checked and secured.

    8:39 a.m.: Assistance was provided to a citizen on Raymond Street.

    8:15 a.m.: Assistance was provided to a citizen at an address on Central Street.

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  • Authorities: Car meetup gatherings can be difficult to control

    Authorities: Car meetup gatherings can be difficult to control

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    Spontaneous “meetup” and “pop-up” gatherings in outdoor commercial areas and parking lots have dogged area police for the past several years.

    Seven people were shot at a pop-up gathering at 100 Lindberg Ave. in Methuen early Sunday. An eighth person suffered a head injury after falling while trying to flee. Authorities said two of the people injured were listed in critical condition.

    It’s not the first time a local car meetup has ended in violence. Earlier this spring, a person who went to a similar party on Glen Street in Lawrence was shot. Police learned about the shooting after the victim was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

    Fueled by social media posts and indicators, including Snapchat notifications, the meet-ups are attended by young people between roughly 16 and 20 years old. These people are too young to get into clubs, so they meet at outdoor locations to listen to music, dance, drink, vape and smoke marijuana, police said.

    Methuen Police Chief Scott McNamara said during a press conference Sunday morning that officers have been monitoring “hot spots” for these “spontaneous meetups.”

    Those attending are coming from all over Essex County “and beyond,” District Attorney Paul Tucker said during the press conference.

    Police sources said the meetups are primarily fueled through the Snapchat application, which allows messages and photos to be posted and later automatically deleted and locations to be “pinned” or illuminated on maps.

    Those who attend often drive souped-up or lowrider vehicles with powerful stereo speakers installed. Others are driving dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles that are illegal to operate on streets and roads. These drivers often congregate in large groups, hoping it gives them anonymity despite the chaos these events often create, police said.

    In September, local police and state troopers seized 19 bikes and issued more than 50 citations in a crackdown prompted by complaints about reckless and dangerous operation of motorcycles, dirt bikes and off-road vehicles on public ways.

    Local police regularly collaborate with the Massachusetts State Police airwing to pinpoint the meetup gatherings and errant drivers, officers said.

    Loud music from pop-up gatherings triggers noise complaints from the immediate area and also from surrounding communities, police said. McNamara said he wanted to stress in the wake of Sunday morning’s incident “that there is no ongoing threat to the larger community.”

    “The threat is compartmentalized to the smaller population of people who continue to engage in this type of high-risk behavior,” the chief said.

    Staff Writer Jill Harmacinski may be contacted at jharmacinski@northofboston.com and followed on X/Twitter @EagleTribJill.

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    By Jill Harmacinski | Staff Writer

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  • Georgetown PD: Local teen stole 2 cars

    Georgetown PD: Local teen stole 2 cars

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    GEORGETOWN — A local teen accused of stealing two cars was arraigned Monday in Haverhill District Court, according to police.

    Joseph Winthrop Lee, 18, of Georgetown was charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle (two counts); larceny of a motor vehicle, failure to stop for police, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, leaving the scene after property damage, resisting arrest, speeding in excess of posted limit and a marked lanes violation.

    Lee was arrested shortly after police say he stole a 2010 Toyota Camry early Sunday and led officers on a pursuit that ended with the car veering into woods off Church Street in West Newbury.

    He was later captured by officers with the help of Amesbury police K-9 Meatball and his partner, Thomas Nichols.

    The arrest came shortly after local police responded to a suspicious gathering at the Georgetown Park and Ride involving two men and a 2022 Toyota Prius. The officers identified the vehicle as being stolen from a Newton address.

    When approached by officers, the men fled. Lee then stole the Camry, police said.

    The second car theft took place in the early morning of May 31 when a 2008 Toyota Prius was stolen from a Georgetown home. Several hours later, the Prius was found abandoned with a flat tire outside the Museum of Science in Boston, according to police.

    Local police charged Lee with both thefts.

    Lee is due back in court July 10.

    In light of the two incidents, police are reminding residents to lock their vehicles.

    “Practicing responsible vehicle ownership isn’t just about protecting your property, it’s also about protecting the lives and property of other people,” Georgetown police Chief David Sedgwick said. “Motor vehicle theft is often a gateway crime to other crime, such as speeding and reckless driving, both of which pose a threat to the entire community. On this occasion, the motor vehicles were stolen as a matter of convenience, and their theft could have been prevented.”

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers the following commonsense tips for helping to prevent vehicle theft:

    Take your vehicle’s key and do not leave it in or on your vehicle; close and lock all windows and doors when parking; park in well-lit areas if possible; and never leave valuables in the vehicle, especially if they can be seen from outside.

    Dave Rogers is the editor of the Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: drogers@newburyportnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @drogers41008.

    Dave Rogers is the editor of the Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: drogers@newburyportnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @drogers41008. 

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    By Dave Rogers | drogers@newburyportnews.com

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  • Newburyport wins big in e-bus bonanza

    Newburyport wins big in e-bus bonanza

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    Schools in North of Boston and southern New Hampshire communities, including Newburyport, are among the largest recipients of grants in the latest round of Clean School Bus Program awards.

    As part of its ongoing effort to replace diesel-fueled school buses, the Biden administration said this week it will provide about 530 school districts across nearly all states with an additional $1 billion to help them purchase clean school buses.

    Massachusetts school districts are in line for more than $42 million to purchase electric buses as part of an effort to upgrade the state’s aging fleet and reduce emissions from diesel-powered vehicles.

    Newburyport is receiving $3 million for 15 buses, according to the Biden administration.

    The Derry Cooperative School District in New Hampshire is receiving one of the largest grants in the region – $8.6 million for 25 electric school buses, thanks to an application submitted by First Student Inc., the transportation contractor for the district.

    Several North of Boston school districts are also sharing in the e-bus funding, according to a list provided by the White House. Andover is receiving $5 million for 25 e-buses, while Ipswich is getting $5 million for 15.

    Salem is receiving $2.6 million for 13 e-buses, the Biden administration said. Other school districts, including Gloucester, Marblehead, Beverly and the Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School, are also getting funding to buy new e-buses.

    In addition to Derry, eight other New Hampshire districts such as Concord and Nashua will receive some of the funding, according to the White House. The money comes from the latest disbursements of grants through the Clean School Bus Program administered by the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection.

    The rebates will help school districts purchase more than 3,400 clean school buses – 92% of them electric – to accelerate the nation’s transition to zero-emission vehicles and produce cleaner air in schools and communities, according to the Biden administration.

    EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in a conference call with reporters Tuesday that the funding will help “transform the nation’s school bus fleet to better protect our most precious cargo – our kids – saving school districts money, improving air quality, and bolstering American manufacturing all at the same time.”

    The federal program has awarded nearly $3 billion for 8,500 electric and alternative fuel buses in more than 1,000 school districts, according to the Biden administration.

    Low-income, rural and tribal communities – accounting for about 45% percent of the selected projects – are slated to receive roughly 67% of the total funding, per the administration.

    Regan noted how “low-income communities and communities of color have long felt the disproportionate impacts of air pollution leading to severe health outcomes that continue to impact these populations.”

    As for business and economic opportunities, Regan pointed to the development of well-paying manufacturing jobs and investment in local businesses stemming from the increasing demand for these clean school buses.

    “As more and more schools make the switch to electric buses, there will be a need for American-made batteries, charging stations and service providers to maintain the buses supercharging and reinvigorating local economies,” he added.

    The program was initially funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law signed by Biden in November 2021, which includes $5 billion over five years to replace the country’s current school buses with “zero-emission and low-emission models.”

    In January, the EPA announced more than $1 billion in funding for 2,700 clean school buses in 280 school districts in 37 states, including Massachusetts.

    Federal health officials say exposure to diesel exhaust can lead to major health conditions such as asthma and respiratory illnesses, especially among children.

    Despite the Biden administration’s efforts, e-buses still make up a tiny percentage of the buses on the roads nationwide, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

    The number of e-buses grew by 112% between 2018 and 2021. But with just 1,300 on the roadways in 2021, that represented just 2% of the transit buses in operation, according to DOT data. Of about 500,000 school buses nationwide, only 1,800 were electric in 2021, the federal agency said.

    Material from States Newsroom reporter Shauneen Miranda was used in this report.

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    By Christian M. Wade | Statehouse Reporter

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  • State police plan weekend sobriety checkpoint

    State police plan weekend sobriety checkpoint

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    Col. John E. Mawn Jr., superintendent of Massachusetts State Police, said a “sobriety checkpoint” will be implemented on a public way in Essex County this weekend.

    The purpose is to further educate drivers and strengthen the public’s awareness of the need for detecting and removing those motorists who operate under the influence of alcohol and, or, drugs from the roadways.

    It will be operated during varied hours Saturday into Sunday. The selection of vehicles will not be arbitrary, safety will be assured, and any inconveniences to motorists will be minimized with advance notice to reduce fear and anxiety, Mawn said in a release.

    The checkpoint is made possible through a grant provided by the Office of Grants and Research of the state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.

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  • 2 killed in Methuen wrong-way crash

    2 killed in Methuen wrong-way crash

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    METHUEN — Two people are dead after a head-on collision early Monday closed Interstate 93 for about three hours.

    The three-vehicle crash occurred shortly after 2 a.m. when a Toyota RAV4 SUV was traveling north in the southbound lanes of I-93, according to a preliminary police investigation.

    The RAV4, driven by a 53-year-old Quincy resident, collided head on with a Toyota Camry driven by a 21-year-old Quincy resident, police said.

    The 21-year-old died at the crash scene while the RAV4’s driver was transported to a local hospital and later pronounced dead. Their names were not released.

    After the initial crash, the Camry collided with a third vehicle whose driver was not injured, police said.

    The crash remains under investigation. State police from the Andover barracks were assisted by first responders from Methuen.

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    By Teddy Tauscher | ttauscher@eagletribune.com

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  • Area police logs

    Area police logs

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    Beverly

    Tuesday

    A witness reported seeing a bicyclist fall off his bike at 6:55 p.m. at the intersection of Lovett and Ives streets. Police said the cyclist appears to have gotten his jacket tangled in the spokes. He was not wearing a helmet or carrying identification but was later identified as a 36-year-old area resident. He was transported to Beverly hospital with minor injuries and his bike was left in the station sallyport for safe keeping.

    Wednesday

    A man flagged down a cruiser at 2:07 a.m. at the intersection of Park and Pleasant streets and asked to be taken to the hospital. He was transported to Salem Hospital via ambulance.

    Officers were sent to the intersection of Cabot and Myrtle streets at 10:55 a.m. to check on a disabled green pickup truck. Detail officer arrived first on scene and found the vehicle with a disabled front -right wheel and axle. The driver was out of the truck and not suffering from any health episode or signs of impairment from drugs or alcohol. A check of his records found only civil moving violations, and a search of the vehicle yielded nothing of value. It was towed by New Beverly.

    The general manager of a building on Park Street reported chalk graffiti on the brick wall of the depot. The names Brenda, “Donalad” and Kristen were chalked on the building along with other barely legible writing. The officer spoke with the homeless group across the street and asked who was responsible for it. One of the males, whose name was not on the wall, took responsibility, but it may have been one of the females. The officer told to wash it off immediately, and if it is done again, they will be charged with vandalism/tagging. The officer watched the male to remove the chalk.

    An officer went to 490 Rantoul St. at 2:02 p.m. to take a report on harassment by a tenant. The tenant said he gave the landlord two weeks’ notice that he was moving, and the landlord reciprocated by telling him to leave immediately. The tenant said he had a long history of issues with the landlord that’s why he was moving out. He was advised how to proceed in Salem District Court for the civil components and also in regard to obtaining a harassment prevention order.

    At 5:34 p.m. an officer came across a minor motor vehicle accident. The officer said he inspected the rear bumper of the vehicle in close detail and observed there was no damage at all, and it was very clear the operator was lying. He advised her that if she tried to file a claim, the other driver could use this narrative as proof there was no damage.

    Fire and EMS were sent to Cabot Street at 7:27 p.m. for a person with an injured leg. The woman said she fell and scraped her shin on some rocks on the beach, and when she saw the blood, she fainted. Friends helped her to her feet, and she was able to walk off the beach to EMS and fire who evaluated her. She refused medical treatment.

    Thursday

    Police responded to the intersection of Cabot and Federal streets at 1:05 a.m. for a disturbance. A 49-year-old Beverly woman was arrested and charged with assault and battery on a family or household member.

    An officer was sent to the intersection of Church and Cabot streets at 6:06 p.m. to make a wellbeing check after a possible assault. The female was transported to Beverly hospital with the officer riding in the ambulance with her.

    Peabody

    Thursday

    A caller reported at 12:42 p.m. she went to check on her mother’s residence and found the door unlocked, and lights and TV on inside. No one should have been there at the time. Officers checked the residence, and all was in order with no signs of forced entry, it appeared the TV was just left on.

    IStorage, 137 Summit St., reported at 2:15 p.m., that a trailer had been stolen.

    A Hamerick Road woman called police at 6:40 p.m., to report that her father, who had possible memory issues, left home at 9:30 a.m., in a Green Cab and had not returned. The taxi took him to Apollo Travel in Cambridge, the daughter said, but they told her he did not book any plane tickets and left around 12:30-1 p.m., direction of travel unknown. The daughter left a voicemail on his cellphone after getting no answer. T-Mobile was attempting to ping the phone. Her father was last seen wearing a green hat, brown plaid shirt and green or brown pants. He was carrying a brown suitcase, a pink suitcase and a duffle bag. T-Mobile advised it had pinged the phone at Logan Airport within and gave the coordinates within a radius of 299 meters. Mass. State Police Troop F at Logan was notified to attempt to make contact with the father and to call his daughter. His picture was sent to Sgt. Maguire at the Troop F Barracks.

    Friday

    A woman called police at 2:32 a.m. from Independent Electric Supply, 34 Railroad Ave., to report she had put her purse down to get something and the suspect picked it up and fled toward Dunkin’ Donuts. The suspect was described as a white female with dark hair and blond highlights, possible facial piercings, blue eyes and a dark sweatshirt.

    Police stopped a vehicle at the Knights of Columbus, 96 Main St. and, after a brief investigation, they arrested the driver, a 44-year-old Peabody man. He was charged with drunken driving or with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs and with possessing Class B drugs.

    A caller left a voicemail with Animal Control complaining his neighbor allows his dogs to run loose in the neighborhood. The 9 Oran Circle neighbor was mailed a copy of the leash law, license application and citation warnings for the unrestrained and potentially unvaccinated/unlicensed dogs. There is no history of dogs at that address.

    An ambulance was dispatched at 10:11 a.m., to New England Orthopedics, 4 Centennial Drive, for a patient who was unable to move his legs.

    Marblehead

    Thursday

    Two officers were sent to a Pond Street location at 8:20 p.m., to investigate a complaint.

    An officer was called to a Russell Street address at 8:32 a.m. to report on a larceny, forgery or a fraud.

    Police, fire and ambulance were sent to the intersection of Ocean and Atlantic avenues at 1:29 p.m. for a motor vehicle crash.

    Officers were sent to Garden Road at 2:30 p.m., and to Atlantic Avenue at 3:04 p.m., to report on separate cases of larceny, forgery or fraud.

    An officer was sent to Heritage Way at 4:06 p.m. for a larceny, forgery or fraud.

    A report of a general complaint brought police to Broughton Road at 8:10 p.m.

    Salem

    Wednesday

    An officer was sent to Leach St. at 4:55 p.m., and another to 55 Summit St. at 5:49 p.m. to report on separate frauds or scams.

    Police were sent to 39 Upham St. at 6:42 p.m. to end a disturbance. After a brief investigation, they arrested a 67-year-old Salem man. He was charged with assault and assault with a dangerous weapon.

    The report of a larceny brought officers to 13 Read St. at 7:30 p.m.

    Also at 7:30 p.m., police took a report on a stolen or missing motor vehicle license plate from 63 Jefferson Ave.

    Police were sent to 41 Bridge St., at 8:37 p.m. to deal with a juvenile issue.

    A missing juvenile was reported at 10:53 p.m., from 85 Valley St.

    A larceny was reported from 52 Northey St. at 11:33 p.m.

    Thursday

    Officers were called to 4 Colonial Terrace at 12:01 a.m., to end a dispute.

    Police went to 106 Linden St. at 7:50 a.m. to end another dispute.

    Officers were sent to 190 Bridge St. at 8:04 a.m. for a motor vehicle accident with airbag deployment and possible injuries.

    The report of a fraud or a scam brought police to Pickman Road at 11:36 a.m.

    Police arrested a person on School Street at 12:56 a.m., but no further information was provided.

    Officers were called to The Home Depot, 50 Traders Way at 1:20 p.m., for a larceny.

    The report of a dispute brought police to the vicinity of the North and Mason streets intersection at 3:31 p.m. for a dispute.

    The report of a suspicious item brought police to the vicinity of 170 North St. at 5:08 p.m. No issue was reported.

    Police were called to a Cedarcrest Avenue address at 5:11 p.m., for a juvenile issue.

    Police arrested a man at 5:12 p.m. in the vicinity of 211 Washington St. After a brief investigation, they arrested the 62-year-old Salem man and charged him with violation of a miscellaneous municipal ordinance or bylaw.

    An officer was sent to North Street at 7:28 p.m. to handle a juvenile issue.

    Friday

    Police were called to 211 Washington St. at 7 a.m. for a larceny.

    At 8:54 a.m., reports of a disturbance brought police to 75 Boston St.

    Officers were called to 1000 Loring Ave. at 9:11 to end a dispute.

    Police were sent to 1000 Loring Ave. at 9:16 a.m. for an assault in the past.

    The report of a larceny brought police to Salem Hospital, 81 Highland Ave., at 9:27 a.m.

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  • Tesla’s Autopilot drove car into tree, killing Colorado man in fiery crash, lawsuit alleges

    Tesla’s Autopilot drove car into tree, killing Colorado man in fiery crash, lawsuit alleges

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    Hans Von Ohain and Nora Bass (Photo via lawsuit filed by MLG Attorneys at Law)

    Tesla’s advanced Autopilot driving system malfunctioned and caused one of the electric car maker’s Colorado employees to drive off the road and die in a fiery crash, a newly filed wrongful death lawsuit alleges.

    The widow of Hans Von Ohain says her husband was driving back from golfing in Evergreen with a friend on May 16, 2022, when the Autopilot system “unexpectedly caused the 2021 Tesla Model 3 to sharply veer to the right, leading it off the pavement” on Upper Bear Creek Road.

    The 33-year-old Von Ohain, who was intoxicated, fought to regain control of the vehicle, “but, to his surprise and horror,” the car drove off the road and into a tree, where it burst into flames, according to the 16-page complaint filed May 3 in Clear Creek County District Court.

    The Colorado State Patrol said in its 403-page crash report that the car’s condition after the crash made it impossible to access data to determine whether the self-driving feature was engaged at the time.

    But the passenger in the car, Erik Rossiter, who suffered injuries in the crash, told investigators that Von Ohain was using the autonomous drive feature on the trip home, according to the CSP’s final report.

    “It was uncomfortable,” he told troopers. “The car would swerve off toward the side of the road periodically and bring itself back.”

    The vehicle was traveling 41 mph at the time of the crash, just above the 40 mph speed limit, according to the CSP report.

    Von Ohain also used the self-driving feature on the way to the golf course, Rossiter said — a trip he called “a bit nerve-wracking.”

    An autopsy report showed the driver’s blood-alcohol level at three times the legal limit. His widow, Nora Bass, told the Washington Post in February that she had been unable to find an attorney to take the case due to his intoxication.

    “Regardless of how drunk Hans was, (Tesla CEO Elon) Musk has claimed that this car can drive itself and is essentially better than a human,” Bass told the newspaper. “We were sold a false sense of security.”

    Efforts by The Denver Post to reach Bass or her attorney were unsuccessful.

    If Von Ohain was, in fact, using the Full Self-Driving feature, it would make his death the first known fatality involving Tesla’s most advanced driver-assistance technology, the Washington Post reported.

    Bass and her attorneys allege Tesla knowingly released the self-driving system in vehicles when it was just a prototype and unready for consumers.

    Tesla did not respond to messages from The Post seeking comment. Von Ohain worked for the Texas-based carmaker as a recruiter.

    Federal regulators have logged more than 900 crashes in Teslas since they began requiring automakers to report accidents in 2021 involving driver-assistance systems, the Washington Post found. At least 40 resulted in serious or fatal injuries.

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    Sam Tabachnik

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  • Pedestrian struck and killed in Centennial, eastbound lanes of Arapahoe Road closed

    Pedestrian struck and killed in Centennial, eastbound lanes of Arapahoe Road closed

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    Sheriff’s deputies have closed the eastbound lanes of East Arapahoe Road at South Dexter Street in Centennial after a pedestrian was struck and killed by a driver Monday morning.

    The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office said the driver of the vehicle that hit the pedestrian remained on scene and is being cooperative. Traffic is being diverted on to South Dexter Street and the eastbound lanes of East Arapahoe Road are expected to remain closed until at least 9 a.m.

    It’s not clear from the sheriff’s office post on X what caused the collision but a photo that was posted on the social media platform shows a road that is partially covered by snow.

    A snowstorm that hit the metro area Sunday night and into Monday morning led to multiple road closures in and around the area.

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    John Aguilar

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  • Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles services impacted by nationwide outage

    Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles services impacted by nationwide outage

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    A nationwide outage is interfering with Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles services today, including most driver’s license and online services.

    The outage stems from the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the agency announced in a news release Thursday morning.

    Services that are still up and running include driver’s license knowledge tests, endorsement tests, commercial driver’s license instruction permit tests, scheduling hearings and requesting motor vehicle records.

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    Katie Langford

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  • CBD Can Significantly Lower Dogs’ Stress and Anxiety in Car Travel, Study Shows

    CBD Can Significantly Lower Dogs’ Stress and Anxiety in Car Travel, Study Shows

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    Taking your dog to the vet or anywhere that involves moving vehicles is stressful. For you, let alone the poor pup. But your favorite plant, particularly CBD, could make the experience easier for them. And, yes, you’re allowed to have some, too. 

    Dogs who enjoy a daily dose of CBD see “significant reductions” in stress and anxiety related to car travel, according to a new study. Scientists at Waltham Petcare Science Institute in the United Kingdom looked at both the behavioral and physiological stress response in canines given CBD (THC-free cannabis) and a placebo group who did not ingest CBD. They studied the doggos before, during, and after car trips. For the study, researchers partnered with the pet food and vet company Mars Petcare.

    Twenty dogs participated in the study. And these weren’t dogs who jump at the chance to stick their head out the window of a car and eagerly wave their tongue into the wind. To qualify, they all showed symptoms of anxiety and stress regarding car trips. But when given CBD, in this case, two hours before the required drive, every man’s best friend given CBD showed “meaningful improvements” during the 24 weeks the study lasted. 

    How you may ask, did they level dogs’ stress levels? The researchers monitored cortisol levels, a steroid hormone produced and released by your adrenal glands, which are endocrine glands situated above your kidneys, associated with stress. They also looked at more obvious factors, such as how much they whined. The results suggest that these stress indicators “were significantly influenced by CBD administration,” the study says, “indicating daily dosing at 4 mg/kg may have a mild anxiolytic effect on dogs when traveling in a car.” 

    The placebo group’s stress levels also went down. In humans, the placebo effect can be extremely effective; if you believe you’re taking something, your brain often reacts as if this is the case. But dogs don’t understand (as far as we know) the implications of taking an agent such as CBD, so the study assumes that the lowering of anxiety in the placebo group is the result of dogs getting used to driving. But, before we assume that this is why those who did take CBD showed less stress, note that this group of dogs, on average, had lower levels of cortisol post-test than they did when the study began. 

    But the stress indicators, such as cortisol, didn’t go away completely. As a result, the study’s authors suggest that, just like for you, CBD is most effective in reducing anxiety in dogs as part of a comprehensive approach, noting that CBD is “best used in combination with other interventions, such as behavioral modification therapy, in order to fully alleviate canine stress…These results, combined with the established pharmacokinetics of CBD oil to reach peak levels at 1.5 to 2 hours, with a half-life of 1 to 4 hours, suggests CBD could be used efficaciously as a single dose treatment prior to acute stressors.”

    The researchers concluded that “Additional research is warranted to better understand the effect of CBD at other dosages on improving dog emotional wellbeing.”

    Enjoying the calming effect of CBD isn’t the only thing humans have in common with dogs. Just like with our brains and bodies, stress can be pretty detrimental to your pet. Anxious dogs experience a range of symptoms, from physiological changes like increased heart rate and suppressed digestion to behavioral shifts, including heightened reactivity or depression. Stress can also lead to digestive problems such as diarrhea and vomiting, peeing more often or with less control, and obsessive-like behaviors like pacing and overgrooming. Poor things! Stress in dogs can also lead to heightened aggression, demonstrated through growling or biting. Over time, a high level of stress starts to have a negative cumulative effect on your dog’s health, which is all the more reason for you both to keep calm and chill out with CBD.

    This certainly isn’t the only research showing that dogs can benefit from cannabis. One 2018 study suggests that CBD can reduce seizures in dogs, while another from the same year finds that it can alleviate arthritis pain, Marijuana Moment reports. However, the legalization is putting weed-sniffing police jobs out of work. But perhaps getting to retire early is also good for reducing their stress levels, so it’s another win for canines and cannabis. 

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    Sophie Saint Thomas

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  • Tesla Owners Respond To Self-Driving Car Recall

    Tesla Owners Respond To Self-Driving Car Recall

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    Tesla recently recalled 2 million vehicles following safety concerns with the autopilot system. The Onion asked Tesla owners what they thought about the self-driving car recall, and this is what they said.

    Justin Batina, Entrepreneur

    Justin Batina, Entrepreneur

    Image for article titled Tesla Owners Respond To Self-Driving Car Recall

    “It’s too late. Mine already ran over all 74 million U.S. children.”

    Sophie Killian, Biomedical Researcher

    Sophie Killian, Biomedical Researcher

    Image for article titled Tesla Owners Respond To Self-Driving Car Recall

    “I actually hadn’t heard about the recall, but this helps explain why I’m currently wildly careening through lanes.”

    Nelson Hall, Hotel Manager

    Nelson Hall, Hotel Manager

    Image for article titled Tesla Owners Respond To Self-Driving Car Recall

    Stephanie Hoover, Stay-At-Home Mom

    Stephanie Hoover, Stay-At-Home Mom

    Image for article titled Tesla Owners Respond To Self-Driving Car Recall

    “Sure, some people have been killed, but what about all the people who are still living?”

    Ramsey Torrison, Real Estate Broker

    Ramsey Torrison, Real Estate Broker

    Image for article titled Tesla Owners Respond To Self-Driving Car Recall

    “No problem, I’ll just drive my wife’s Camry without steering instead.”

    Dan Cates, Mobile Developer

    Dan Cates, Mobile Developer

    Image for article titled Tesla Owners Respond To Self-Driving Car Recall

    “I am cry-laughing at this. Cry-laughing is the only approved emotion for Tesla owners.”

    Erik Mingo, Petroleum Engineer

    Erik Mingo, Petroleum Engineer

    Image for article titled Tesla Owners Respond To Self-Driving Car Recall

    “I’m worried people won’t be able to tell I’m insufferable while my Tesla is away.”

    Sara Flores, Blogger

    Image for article titled Tesla Owners Respond To Self-Driving Car Recall

    “I didn’t buy a Tesla to be safe.”

    Keith Dolman, CPA

    Image for article titled Tesla Owners Respond To Self-Driving Car Recall

    “Don’t worry, I already fixed the software myself with some duct tape.”

    Alice Wang, Business Development Manager

    Alice Wang, Business Development Manager

    Image for article titled Tesla Owners Respond To Self-Driving Car Recall

    “If it was truly important, the car would have driven itself back by now.”

    Liam Thompson, Human Rights Lawyer

    Liam Thompson, Human Rights Lawyer

    Image for article titled Tesla Owners Respond To Self-Driving Car Recall

    “That does it. I’m done with these big manufacturers. I’m going to become a car myself.”

    Blake Warren, Front-End Developer

    Blake Warren, Front-End Developer

    Image for article titled Tesla Owners Respond To Self-Driving Car Recall

    “I bought it for the bugs, not the features.”

    Maye Musk, Former Model

    Image for article titled Tesla Owners Respond To Self-Driving Car Recall

    “If you tell anyone I said this, I’ll deny it, but my son is and has always been such an incompetent dumbass.”

    James Livingston, Dermatologist

    James Livingston, Dermatologist

    Image for article titled Tesla Owners Respond To Self-Driving Car Recall

    “I suspected it wasn’t supposed to be on fire.”

    Brian Garrison, Cyber Security Analyst

    Brian Garrison, Cyber Security Analyst

    Image for article titled Tesla Owners Respond To Self-Driving Car Recall

    “I believe in bodily autonomy for all vehicles. It should be up to the individual car to decide whether or not they want to be recalled.”

    Noah Miller, UX/UI Designer

    Noah Miller, UX/UI Designer

    Image for article titled Tesla Owners Respond To Self-Driving Car Recall

    “Oh, those poor things. I’m happy to donate some of my brain, if it helps at all.”

    Cameron Nichols, Mechanical Engineer

    Cameron Nichols, Mechanical Engineer

    Image for article titled Tesla Owners Respond To Self-Driving Car Recall

    “Stop being so dramatic. It’s not a recall, it’s a software update intended to fix a bug that would cause the vehicle to desecrate the victim’s corpse.”

    Ava Smith, HR Representative

    Ava Smith, HR Representative

    Image for article titled Tesla Owners Respond To Self-Driving Car Recall

    “Yeah, auto pilot. That’s why the car I was in ran over my family’s dog. Definitely autopilot.”

    Robin Lee, Cloud Architect

    Robin Lee, Cloud Architect

    Image for article titled Tesla Owners Respond To Self-Driving Car Recall

    “Is this about my real-life Tesla or my Metaverse Tesla? I hope not the latter since it was the more expensive of the two.”

    Brandon Caudle, Law Professor

    Brandon Caudle, Law Professor

    Image for article titled Tesla Owners Respond To Self-Driving Car Recall

    “I hope the update makes autopilot safe enough that I can still keep getting blowjobs while eating soup on the highway.”

    Drew Kingsbury, Dentist

    Image for article titled Tesla Owners Respond To Self-Driving Car Recall

    “My Model S locked me inside and told me it’s not going anywhere.”

    Louis Musk, Student

    Image for article titled Tesla Owners Respond To Self-Driving Car Recall

    “As one of Elon’s forgotten sons, this is great for me. I finally have an excuse to contact him since the only number he gave me was for Tesla customer service.”

    Preston Tighe, Research Engineer

    Preston Tighe, Research Engineer

    Image for article titled Tesla Owners Respond To Self-Driving Car Recall

    “I heard the next-gen will self-recall as soon as they’re driven off the lot. So cool.”

    You’ve Made It This Far…

    You’ve Made It This Far…

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  • Tesla ‘digs its own grave with the Cybertruck,’ Convoy collapses and Rivian scores a win at Rebelle

    Tesla ‘digs its own grave with the Cybertruck,’ Convoy collapses and Rivian scores a win at Rebelle

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    Welcome back to The Station, your central hub for all past, present and future means of moving people and packages from Point A to Point B.

    Your usual host Kirsten was shredding off-road at the Rebelle Rally this week, so I’ll be taking over the newsletter. Let’s jump in with a few words about Tesla.

    Ah, but before Rebecca does . . . it’s me, Kirsten, popping in here to share a bit of what I saw and experienced at Rebelle Rally 2023, a 2,120-kilometer off-road and navigation competition. In its eighth year, the Rebelle has become a proving ground of sorts for the 65 all-women teams who participate as well as stock manufacturer vehicles. The catch? GPS and other electronic devices are strictly prohibited.

    So what am I checking out at this seemingly non-tech event? EVs and tech, of course. Oh, and green hydrogen, believe it or not.

    There were 10 vehicles out of the 65 that fell into the electrified category such as the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe. Four of those vehicles — all of them Rivian R1T pickups — were electric. And this year, one Rivian team took first place in the 4×4 class (there are two classes in the Rebelle) — the first time an all-electric vehicle was on the top podium. The first place finishers, driver Lillian Macaruso and navigator Alexandra Anderson, are both employees of Rivian. 

    OK, Rebecca, back to you. 

    Tesla reported its third-quarter earnings this week, and once again, all eyes were on the automaker’s margins amid ongoing price cuts. 

    Tesla’s shares, which are priced more as a tech stock than as an automaker’s stock, were down after Q3 earnings. Investors were clearly feeling skittish after Tesla reported a gross margin of 17.9%, down from 25.1% in the same period last year. That’s also down from Q2’s margins of 18.2%. As a result, profits fell 44% to $1.85 billion in Q3 from the same year-ago period. 

    Investors see the falling margins and Tesla’s price cuts as proof that demand is lessening for the vehicles as other EVs take market share and rising interest rates make it difficult for many buyers to afford big ticket purchases. The company also reported that solar deployments slipped 48% in Q3 from the same period last year. But the company made up for it by pulling in a 90% spike in energy storage deployments. 

    Tesla also gave some updates about its long-delayed Cybertruck. Initial deliveries are set for an event at Giga Texas on November 30. Elon Musk noted that scaling the Cybertruck will be hard and it will take 18 months before the pickup is profitable. 

    “I mean, we dug our own grave with Cybertruck,” said Musk. 

    The billionaire executive also said Giga Texas will be able to produce about 250,000 Cybertrucks a year starting in 2025. But let’s remember that Musk isn’t great at making predictions. After all, he initially said the Cybertruck would be on the market by 2021. Expect some of these numbers to be pushed out, too. 

    Want to reach out with a tip, comment or complaint? Email Kirsten at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com or Rebecca at rebecca.techcrunch@gmail.com.

    Reminder that you can drop us a note at tips@techcrunch.com. If you prefer to remain anonymous, click here to contact us, which includes SecureDrop (instructions here) and various encrypted messaging apps.

    Micromobbin’

    the station scooter1a

    This week was the trade show Micromobility America. Here are some of the best bits that came out of it:

    Bird is now doing e-bikes again? But instead of the VanMoof knockoff of previous years, Bird has partnered with TradeHubb, an e-bike supplier, and Spring, a strategic retail growth company, to launch the bike. You might recall that Bird last year ditched its retail bike offering to focus on shared rides in an attempt to reach profitability. The struggling company was also recently delisted from the stock market. Who knows what’s going on behind the scenes? I tried reaching out to learn more, but no response. If you have a tip, hit me up!

    The team at Ride Review launched the Rider’s Choice Awards again, for those who want to vote. Winners will be announced January 25.

    The folks behind Micromobility America also launched the Electric Rider Alliance, a 501c6 membership organization that is set up to “create a level playing field in the transportation industry for the small electric vehicle ecosystem through standards, lobbying and governance.”

    In other news . . . 

    Bolt Mobility is introducing distance-based pricing for some of its micromobility vehicles. The aim here is to incentivize riders to slow down and ride more safely, rather than racing the clock.

    An e-scooter that looks like a Cybertruck? Check out Infinite Machine’s first product, the P1, which is on sale now.

    Meet Shane, a two-wheeled EV concept space-pod-looking thing from the creator of the original hoverboard, Shane Chen.

    Deal of the week

    money the stationmoney the station

    Kirsten here again! Convoy isn’t a traditional deal of the week, but its collapse sure got my attention.

    The digital freight broker told employees this past week it was shutting down due to what executives described as a “massive freight recession.” It turns out that disrupting the freight business is hard.

    The abrupt closure, which wiped out investors, comes about 18 months since the Seattle-based company raised $260 million in fresh funding that pushed its valuation to $3.8 billion.

    I went back and read an interview TechCrunch conducted with Convoy co-founder and CEO Dan Lewis. A few things he said stuck out, namely what led him to start the company in the first place. The former Amazon and Google executive, who has a background in strategy and management consulting, told TechCrunch that when he was struck by the urge to start a company, he researched the money-attracting industries of the world, and then, using AngelList, saw how many companies were trying to disrupt those industries.

    Here’s the nugget:

    His search yielded thousands of companies that were working on industries ranging from telecommunications and fashion to video games and food. Billions of dollars were going into trucking each year but fewer than 30 startups showed an interest in the field.

    “I saw a massive opportunity and few people going after it,” Lewis told TechCrunch.

    And then later, when asked if his method of deciding on a direction for a startup is still a good method, Lewis said, in short, yes. Read the whole interview from May 2022 here.

    Other deals that got our attention . . .  

    Hayden AI, an AI and geospatial analytics company, raised $53 million in a Series B funding round led by the Drawdown Fund. The company’s tech is being used by government agencies to enforce traffic violations that obstruct transit buses and capture data to help increase ridership and improve traffic efficiency.

    Laka, a European mobility insurtech company for e-bike riders, acquired Cylantro, a French e-bike insurance broker. The company also announced a €7.6 million round lead by Shift4Good alongside Ponooc, Autotech Ventures, ABN Amro Ventures, Porsche Ventures and others.

    Commercial fleet insurance startup Nirvana Insurance has raised a $57 million Series B to expand its big data platform, hire new staff and grow its business in the trucking industry. Lightspeed Venture Partners led the round, with General Catalyst and Valor Equity Partners also participating. The round doubles Nirvana’s valuation to more than $350 million post-money.

    Supply chain logistics company Transfix raised a $40 million Series F. The company is backed by New Enterprise Associates, G Squared and Canvas Ventures.

    EV charging company Wallbox has acquired the operations and assets of German-based EV charging solutions startup ABL for €15 million. Together the plan is to deploy more than 1 million chargers globally.

    Volta Trucks filed for bankruptcy proceedings in Sweden as difficulties with suppliers proved a hindrance to raising funds. Volta said the bankruptcy in August of Proterra, an EV parts supplier, and the uncertainty over its own battery supplier means it needed to cut down the number of trucks it could produce. Volta, which is based in Sweden but has operations in the U.K., also said it would file for bankruptcy in Britain.

    Notable reads and other tidbits

    Autonomous vehicles

    Cruise, General Motors and Honda are launching a robotaxi service in Japan under a new joint venture. The service will launch with Origin vehicles in Tokyo in 2026.

    Speaking of Cruise, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has opened an investigation into the GM subsidiary’s AV system following several incidents involving pedestrians in San Francisco. The most recent one left a woman stuck under a Cruise robotaxi after being hit by a human-driven vehicle.

    Foxconn and Nvidia are building “AI factories” to help accelerate AVs, robotics and other smart applications. The AI factories position the two against Tesla, which is building the Dojo supercomputer to do more or less the same thing — take in vast amounts of data, train it, tweak code and send it back out to self-driving cars.

    Waymo released a lightweight simulator called Waymax for the AV research community. The simulator is designed to train multiple agents to perform complex, realistic behaviors.

    Electric vehicles, charging & batteries

    BMW Group says it will adopt the NACS charging standard in the U.S. and Canada. Drivers of BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce brands will gain access to Tesla Superchargers in early 2025, and in that same year, BMW says it will implement NACS in EVs sold in the U.S. and Canada across those same brands.

    Speaking of NACS, global EV charging network ChargePoint has officially opened its AC and DC piles and is now deploying NACS connectors across its network.

    General Motors is delaying its $4 billion plan to convert the Orion Assembly plant into an EV truck factory to late 2025 amid softening EV demand and, we’re guessing, the ongoing UAW strike.

    Kia has started taking reservations for its EV9 full-sized SUV. Reservations are $750 and can be applied to the purchase of the company. This is one of the first vehicles Kia has allowed customers to reserve in advance.

    Lucid missed Wall Street delivery estimates in the third quarter by about 500 vehicles. The automaker delivered 1,457 of its luxury Air sedans, reporting flat growth year-over-year. The results sent shares down as investors worried about softening demand for Lucid’s only EV.

    California-based EV startup Pebble unveiled a prototype of its flagship all-electric travel trailer. The $100,000 EV is designed to support a digital nomad looking to get lost in the wilderness — it can live off-grid for seven days.

    Commercial EV startup REE Automotive has reported an order book that now totals $25 million for its modular battery EV platforms, dedicated to B2B customers.

    About 10,000 of Rivian’s all-electric vans are delivering packages throughout the U.S. for Amazon.

    Tesla has urged the Biden administration to adopt stricter fuel economy standards than the NHTSA has proposed. Most other automakers have already said the NHTSA’s proposal was unfeasible, so Tesla’s call on regulators to double down seems to be yet another way the EV maker can one-up its competitors.

    Toyota has also joined the NACS bandwagon. The automaker will build certain Toyota and Lexus vehicles from 2025 onward with an NACS port.

    Future of flight

    EVTOL company Archer Aviation plans to start air taxi operations in Abu Dhabi in 2026. From there, Archer says it will expand across the UAE as part of a memorandum of understanding with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office.

    Miscellaneous

    The United Auto Workers strike is affecting CES. Stellantis canceled its planned presentations for the tech trade show in January, citing the cost of ongoing UAW strikes.

    Zipcar is getting hit with a fine from the NHTSA for “renting vehicles with open, unrepaired recalls.” One recall concerns 2015–2017 Ford Transit Vans, which continued to appear on Zipcar’s platform despite safety issues with the vehicles.

    People

    Autobrains hired Uri Yacovy, a former SVP at Mobileye, as its chief operating officer.

    Logistics company Flexport is laying off 20% of workers, or about 600 people, topping off a spate of staff upheavals at the company.

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  • Your car’s dashboard is about to get a lot more expansive — and expensive – National | Globalnews.ca

    Your car’s dashboard is about to get a lot more expansive — and expensive – National | Globalnews.ca

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    I still remember the Delco AM radio in my dad’s 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 that sat smack in the middle of the dash with its two knobs. The one on the left set the volume as well as turned it off and on. It had an inner ring on the same knob stalk that controlled “tone” (left to turn down the bass and right to turn up the treble; it was useless). The one on the right was for tuning in stations. Cranking it sent an indicator across the dial.

    Once you found the station you were looking for, you pulled out one of the five slat-like buttons on the front of the unit and then pushed it all the way back in, mechanically creating a memory for the tuning indicator. When you had all five buttons programmed, flipping from station to station was as easy as pushing the corresponding button which responded with a hearty ka-CHUNK.

    There was a lot of fighting over that radio because it was the only entertainment device available in the car. How times have changed — and continue to change.

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    I was reminded of that old Delco while attending a couple of panels at Canadian Music Week in Toronto this month. Dashboard times are a-changin’ and changin’ fast.

    As manufacturers and dealers pivot away from ICE (internal combustion engines) to electric vehicles, they’re also looking for new ways to monetize their vehicles. For example, dealers are going to be heavily impacted in the area of after-sales service, the part of the business that brings in most of the revenue.

    With electric vehicles, there are no oil changes, radiators to fix, belts to replace, injectors to clean, exhaust systems to replace, and spark plugs to change. Sure, there are still the mechanics of the electric motors that need attending along with tires to swap, bodywork to repair, and brakes to maintain, but overall, electric vehicles should need less service than ICE vehicles.

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    That lost ICE revenue needs to be made up somewhere. And that somewhere is going to be the dashboard.

    Manufacturers worldwide are looking at new ways to monetize the experience of being in a vehicle, not just for the driver but for all the passengers, too. And it all comes down to data. More and more vehicles are coming with cellular connections, linking them to the exchange of all kinds of data with the cloud. Cars are increasingly big computers on wheels run by millions of lines of code and for them to work properly, they need to be connected to the internet.

    We’re starting to see the introduction of what’s known as “pillar-to-pillar displays,” basically one long electronic ribbon extending from the driver’s side door to the passenger door. The driver will still have all the usual dials and indicators (virtual ones) while the passenger will be invited to engage in their own displays: vehicle analytics, navigation maps, video screens for watching things like YouTube and TikTok, and more. Mercedes S-Class and the company’s EQS EV are already deep into this territory as is Porsche’s all-electric Taycan. Hyundai/KIA isn’t far behind. I’ve driven all of them and it’s pretty sexy.

    Yes, we have CarPlay and Android Auto, but after years of ceding dashboard connectivity to Apple and Google, automakers are swinging back to proprietary systems that they can control — and from which they can harvest all kinds of user data. And by controlling the dashboard, automakers and their partners will start selling services and features as subscriptions.

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    Satellite radio has been delivered this way for decades. I’ve used the example of BMW’s heated seats subscription. The car comes with the mechanics installed. However, you can’t turn them on without paying a monthly fee. Think about the other options you have in your current vehicle. Which ones could be ruled remotely and only usable if you pay?

    But this is just the beginning. The next version of the BMW 5-Series will offer a Tivo option, meaning that passengers, each with their own individual screen, will be able to access all kinds of streaming TV and recorded TV. That’s a far cry from minivan DVD players, isn’t it?

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    Which brings me back to Dad’s old Delco. Radios have long been standard equipment, offering free news, information, and entertainment. As vehicles become more connected, AM/FM radio will be delivered via IP (internet protocol) instead of over the air from a transmitter and tower, meaning that it will be streamed to the car using cellular data and then interpreted by software instead of an old-school antenna and tuners. Data costs money, of course. And because the manufacturer controls which software goes in the dashboard, the chances of us having to subscribe to a radio tuner package is pretty much a slam-dunk.

    First, the bad news. Local radio will no longer be free and unlimited. Second, with all the other subscription offerings that will be available, radio runs the risk of getting lost in a multitude of news/entertainment choices. Today’s broadcasters will have to figure out what to do about that.

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    But there is also some good news. AM/FM radio is a one-way medium. By switching delivery to IP, cars and their occupants will have two-way communication with the broadcaster, paving the way for on-demand and personalized offerings. Real-time listening will still be a thing but there will be more curation opportunities for parties on both sides of the interface, not to mention advertising. I’m currently working with a company that envisions drivers calling up a display for, say, Tim Hortons, to order your double-double and old-fashioned glazed even before you hit the drive-through. If that’s your regular order, the car will even call ahead as you approach your usual location without you having to do anything.

    And then there’s the thorny problem of audience measurement. Compiling radio ratings has always been imperfect with results subject to wild and inaccurate swings. IP delivery of radio will allow for pinpoint determinations of who is listening to what and when — at least within the environment of the vehicle. I saw a demonstration of a system called DTS Soundstage that generates real-time dynamic heat maps of people listening to specific radio stations in their cars. Again, if you’re a broadcaster, this is the kind of accuracy and granularity you’ve been dreaming about when it comes to your audience’s habits and movements.

    How long before all this happens? Not as long as you may think. The average age of a car on Canadian roads is around 11 years; more impactfully, it’s 12.5 years in the U.S. As old analogue vehicles disappear from the roads, pushed by government demands for more EVs, we’ll see a wholesale change in the look, function, and cost of vehicle interiors in the early 2030s. Start budgeting now.

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    —

    Alan Cross is a broadcaster with Q107 and 102.1 the Edge and a commentator for Global News.

    Subscribe to Alan’s Ongoing History of New Music Podcast now on Apple Podcast or Google Play

    &copy 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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  • Auburn student dragged by school bus after getting arm caught in door

    Auburn student dragged by school bus after getting arm caught in door

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    Student dragged after getting caught in bus door

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  • Max Cash Title Loans is Proud to Announce Their Car Photo Contest

    Max Cash Title Loans is Proud to Announce Their Car Photo Contest

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    Max Cash Title Loans, the top-rated car title loan referral service, is running a car photo contest with a $500 prize. Random winner!

    Press Release
    –


    updated: Dec 20, 2016


    Phoenix, Arizona, December 20, 2016 (Newswire.com)
    –
    ​​Max Cash Title Loans, the top-rated car title loan referral service in the industry, is delighted to announce that they will be providing an opportunity to win $500 by conducting a car photo contest on social media. The cash will be awarded based on a random drawing so everyone will have a chance to win.

    The Max Cash Title Loans Car Photo Contest’s entry period began on December 15th of 2016 and will be ongoing until January 16th, 2017. All entries must be received by midnight on the 16th to qualify to win. The contest is easy to enter and there is no purchase necessary to win. All that is required of you is to take an original photo of your vehicle, post it to the contest’s Facebook page, like the Facebook page, and share the promotion page on your own Facebook wall. The winner of $500 will be notified directly following the entry deadline.

    So many beautiful vehicles, from classics to super modern, people just love their cars. This contest to win $500 is for celebration of that love. It’s time to show off and use your car as a model for our site.

    Fred Winchar, President

    Max Cash Title Loans was recently named as Top Consumer Reviews’ top pick amongst all car title loan providers, with a five-star and best-in-class rating. Max Cash Title Loans’ has not only snagged the number one spot on Top Consumer Reviews but, additionally, has the highest score amongst title loan providers on Consumer Affairs, with a four and three-quarter star rating. Brian Dolezal of Top Consumer Reviews has said “Max Cash Title Loans makes it extremely easy to get the needed funds quickly…[and] makes every effort to use their loan volumes to get good interest rates and service for their customers.”

    Max Cash Title Loans sets themselves apart from all other title loan providers in their tireless pursuit of excellence, service, encouragement, strength, diversity, support, and community. All of these things are encompassed in their mission statement to provide high quality loan services with integrity, professionalism, and respect to their clients, their lenders, and the community with which they share resources.

    “For quite some time, we have wanted to show our clients that we are different than any other lending service out there,” says Fred Winchar, CEO and Founder of Max Cash Title Loans. “We thought, what better way to show that we are passionate about helping those in financial need than to give out free money!”

    Max Cash Title Loans hopes that many individuals will enter their photo contest; and they look forward to awarding the lucky winner with $500 so they might start their new year with financial peace of mind.

    About Max Cash Title Loans:

    Max Cash Title Loans is a brand of Tradition Media Group, LLC (TMG Loan Processing) which is the largest title loan independent car title loan processor in the nation and the highest ranked title loan processor as rated by Consumer Affairs. Max Cash Title Loans is an extensive title loan referral service that partners with title loan lenders nationwide. If you need funding quickly, Max Cash Title Loans finds you a lender with competitive interest rates and low monthly installments. No matter where you live, from the west coast to the east coast, they can help you obtain a title loan.

    Media Contact:

    Fred Winchar
    Phone: 480-498-3940 
    Email: fred@maxcashtitleloans.com

    Source: Max Cash Title Loans

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