One person dead after car accident in Barrington

Reports: Car strikes utility pole, careens into Barrington River

Posted 4/17/18

Police are investigating a single car accident that took place on New Meadow Road late Monday night, April 16.

According to news reports, one person was killed after a car struck a utility pole …

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One person dead after car accident in Barrington

Reports: Car strikes utility pole, careens into Barrington River

Posted

Police are investigating a single car accident that took place on New Meadow Road late Monday night, April 16.

One person was killed after a car struck a utility pole and careened into the Barrington River. The accident took place on New Meadow Road just south of Temple Habonim. 

According to Barrington Fire Department Captain Jason Fanion, the car was traveling south on New Meadow Road when it struck a flag pole, and then rammed into a utility pole. The force of the vehicle snapped the pole.

The car then flipped a number of times and careened into the Barrington River.

Captain Fanion said an off-duty firefighter who lives in the area responded to the scene, as did some Barrington Police officers. The first responders and some neighbors checked out the crash scene but did not initially see a vehicle in the area.

"Initially they thought it might have been a hit and run," said Captain Fanion. "It was very dark out."

Police then spotted the vehicle resting upside down in the river, about 20 feet from the shoreline.

Captain Fanion said the police officers and off-duty firefighter waded in chest-deep water to reach the vehicle. They found the driver still restrained in his safety belt, upside down submerged in the water. He was non-responsive.

The emergency responders freed the motorist and pulled him to John Fitta's front yard on New Meadow Road where they tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate the man.

"It was a gruesome scene," said Mr. Fitta. "They tried so hard to revive him.

"The car took half of the pole and carried it all the way to the end. They took the pole out of the water."

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