| Brendan Sheehan |
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| An 18-year-old Tewksbury driver was expected to be arraigned from his hospital bed today in the death of his 14 year old passenger and for allegedly trying to smash his car into a police cruiser during a chase that ended in a fatal crash in Wilmington. Brendan Sheehan, of 74 Alexander Road, Billerica, died at Boston Medical Center at about 7 a.m. Saturday, 4 hours after the car he was riding in crashed into a tree along Route 62 in Wilmington. Police in North Reading, where the chase began, have charged Matthew B. Pariseau, Tewksbury, with assualt with a dangerous weapon (his car) and several motor vehincle charges, said Lt. Edward H. Hayes. Police in Wilmington, where the chase turned deadly, plan to charge Pariseau today with motor vehicle homicide, driving under the influence of alcohol, leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in death, dring dangerously and without a liscense. Pariseau was still hospitalized at Saints Memorial Center in Lowell where he was listed in stable condition, police said. The Middlesex Dstrict Attorney's office was expected to petition a judge to arraign Pariseau at his hospital bed today. The victims mother, Gwen Sheehan, sat in her living room yesterday while Brendan Sheehan's white puppy, a boxer named Emma, roamed. As she spoke, Willie Sheehan, 18, walked into the room, obviously shaken by the loss of his brother. The family has been devastated by their loss, Gwen Sheehan said quietly. "It's hard to believe this is your worst nightmare," she said. "He's just a baby. This month is his b-day, May 27th. He would have been 15." Police say the deadly chase started in North Reading just before 3 a.m., when an officer saw a 1986 silver Honda Accord pull out from Burroughs Street to Main Street so fast that it fishtailed as it turned the cornor. As the driver sped southbound on Main Street the officer turned on the blue lights and siren and tried to stop the vehicle. The driver made a right turn onto North Street, spinning the car 180 degrees at the intersection of North and Lowell Road to face the police cruiser, police said. As the cruiser slowed upon the spun-out car, the driver allegedly accelerated his vehicle in the direction of the officer. Once the police officer moved to avoid a head-on collision, the driver sped west on route 62. The driver then motored North on Middlesex Avenue in Wilmington, but lost control of the car, and once again, police say, tried to drive head on to the police cruiser. The driver then motored north on Middlesex Avenue, turning left on Salem Road, and according to police, picked up the speed. Wilmington police said that Pariseau was traveling as fast as 62 mph in a 30 mph zone. Police say the car sped out of sight. But the officer continued along Salem Road and eventually found the Honda crashed into a tree. As the officer approached the scene in his cruiser, he reportedly saw Pariseau standing by the car. When the suspect noticed the cruiser, he fled, police said. North Reading officers noticed Sheehan in the passengers seat and administered first aid. While Sheehan was being taken by helicopter to Boston Medical Center, Wilminton police tracked down Pariseau. They spotted him hiding in bushes about 50 yards from the accident then chased him about another 150 yards, said Wilmington Sgt. Christopher Neville. Neville said the car Pariseau was driving belongs to a woman who bought it in New Hampshire on Thursday. Police are still working on the connection between the cars owner and Pariseau Brendan Sheehan could not have known Pariseau well, said Gwen Sheehan. He did not know her sons last name when police talked to him, she said. |
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