Massachusetts
Massachusetts man who killed ‘remarkable young woman’ in wrong-way crash is sentenced to prison
A man who robbed a 7-Eleven before killing a “remarkable young woman” in a wrong-way crash while fleeing police has been sentenced to prison.
Salem man William Leger, 40, is facing decades behind bars in connection to the death of Ashley Forward, 19, back in June of 2021.
Five years ago to the day, Leger committed a robbery at 7-Eleven on Lincoln Avenue in Saugus and then fled from a cop.
Leger drove a stolen vehicle south in the northbound lanes of Route 107, and collided with Forward’s vehicle.
Forward, of Lynn — who had just finished her first year as a nursing student at Emmanuel College — was killed in the crash. She was visiting her grandmother when the devastating crash happened.
Leger entered guilty pleas to charges of manslaughter, unarmed robbery, and receiving a stolen vehicle. He was sentenced to 18-20 years in state prison for the manslaughter charge, to be followed by 6-8 years in state prison for the unarmed robbery charge. That will be followed by five years of probation.
Before the sentencing, Forward’s younger sister Jillian and mother, Michelle Luongo, spoke about the impact of Leger’s actions and of Forward.
She was an athletic graduate of KIPP Academy Lynn Collegiate High School, who was on her to becoming a nurse. Also, Forward had volunteered with My Brother’s Table and the Boys & Girls Club of Lynn.
“Ashley was a remarkable young woman with a bright future ahead of her,” her mother said. “She was kind, compassionate, and always willing to help others no matter what… Nursing was not just a career choice for her – it reflected who she was.
“She wanted to care for people, to comfort them, and to heal them,” her mother added. “Her life mattered deeply – not just to her family, her friends, or the community where she gave so much of her time, but to the people she would have helped along the way.”
Approximately eight million gallons of wastewater are currently being discharged into the river per day.
HAVERHILL, Mass. (WWLP) – Those traveling for the Fourth of July weekend are being advised of a wastewater pipe break on the Merrimack River.
The Massachusetts Environmental Police stated that over the weekend, a major wastewater pipe in Haverhill broke, releasing millions of gallons of sewage into the river. The broken pipe was carrying wastewater from the main pumping station to the treatment plant.
Police estimate that approximately eight million gallons of wastewater are currently being discharged into the river per day.
At this time, fishing in the river is not prohibited, and the estuaries and beaches remain open. However, the information is being released to the public to help community members be aware of current conditions and use caution.
To access more information on water quality testing results, you can visit the official DPH website. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
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BROCKTON, Mass. (WJAR) — Four people were shot on Friday night after hundreds had gathered to watch a World Cup match in Massachusetts.
Police said the shooting happened just before midnight on Main Street in Brockton.
Officers said the victims were taken to the hospital.
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Police have not said if there were any arrests.
BOSTON, (WPRI) — A somerset man has been cited for allegedly causing a deadly wrong-way crash in Boston late Saturday night.
Just before midnight, troopers from the H9 Barracks were called for a report of a multi-vehicle crash on I-93 North before Exit 15A.
A preliminary investigation showed that the driver of a 2004 Cadillac Escalade, identified as 81-year-old Antone Carvalho, of Somerset, entered Route 93 North at Exit 15B and drove southbound in the northbound lanes.
Two vehicles, a Honda Odyssey and an Audi A4, attempted to avoid the Carvalho and crashed into each other.
Four people in the Honda Odyssey, were taken to a Boston-area hospital for evaluation.
Shortly after the initial crash, police say Carvalho collided head-on with a Chevrolet Cruze.
Carvalho and the other driver were taken to Boston-area hospitals for their injuries
The driver of the Chevrolet Cruze, identified as a man in his 20’s from Haverhill, died from his injuries.
Carvalho will be issued a summons to appear in court at a later date.
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