Neighbors tried to save driver killed after horrific Hyde Park crash

BOSTON — Boston Police said a driver was killed after a horrific crash that left a car split in two pieces.

It happened just before 5:30 p.m. Thursday on American Legion Highway and Hyde Park Avenue in Hyde Park.

Investigators believe a sedan was traveling at a high rate a speed when it slammed into a pole.

Boston 25 News spoke with a witness who described rushing toward the mangled vehicle to try to help the driver inside.

“Before I even got across the street, three young kids had jumped from that apartment building and immediately pulled the gentleman out of the car,” said witness Jane Lee.

Jane Lee said she has medical training because she worked for years as a medical assistant. She said because of that – she hoped to be able to help in some way.

“One of them started CPR but he said he didn’t have a pulse so I said keep doing CPR. The three of us took turns,” she explained. “He had horrific facial injuries, something I have never seen in my entire life. I will never get that image out of my head.”

She said that EMTs told her and other witnesses that the driver likely died on impact.

Other neighbors said the fatal crash is the latest in a series of serious accidents on this dangerous stretch of road.

“This is the reality we face every single day. We take our lives in our hands just to drive in our neighborhood,” said neighbor Annemarie Yanulis. “They race down this street. They use it as a drag strip.”

According to neighbors, one of the issues is that American Legion Highway slopes down in this particular area – giving drivers an opportunity to pick up speed.

Authorities have not identified the driver who died in Thursday’s single vehicle crash.

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