NORTH READING, Mass. — Two people are dead, including a minor, after an overnight crash in North Reading.
21-year-old Matthew Sweeney of Paxton was charged with felony motor vehicle homicide, operating under the influence and operating to endanger.
According to investigators, around 10:45 p.m. on Saturday, Sweeney was operating an Acura MDX traveling at a high rate of speed on Route 28 when he collided with another vehicle, a Honda HR-V, that was stopped at a red light.
As a result of the crash, the Honda became engulfed in flames.
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First responders and a Good Samaritan attempted to get the occupants out of the car; a male and a minor died on the scene.
A woman spoke with Boston 25 News and identified the two victims as her 35-year-old son, Samir Nali, and her 8-year-old granddaughter, Kashmira Naili.
The owner told Boston 25 he was closing up shop for the night when he heard a loud bang and ran outside.
“A police officer came, and the car was dark. So, he screamed if there was anybody inside. I told him to use something to break the windows,” he said.
“From the moment he opened the windows, then the fire erupted.”
Sweeney was arrested and charged on scene and will be arraigned tomorrow in Woburn District Court.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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