320 Winslow Gray Road, West Yarmouth/Google Maps.
WEST YARMOUTH – A 21-year-old Harwich man faces multiple charges after driving while intoxicated and crashing into a tree in Yarmouth, which later caused the car to explode.
Yarmouth Police say that at approximately 1:00 a.m. Saturday, officers responded to the intersection of Buck Island Road and Winslow Gray Road in West Yarmouth for a report of car crashed into a tree.
Patrol Officer Matt Mangano was the first responding officer to the scene 320 Winslow Gray Road. Upon arrival, the officer observed a Gray 2006 Ford Escape in the front yard of the property. The front end of the vehicle had severe damage and was lodged up against a tree and the horn was continuously sounding due to the damage.
There were bushes in the house next door that the vehicle had drove through and tire tracks from the road leading to the Ford Escape. There also appeared to be small damage to the left bumper of the vehicle in the driveway.
Officer Mangano observed a male, later identified as 21-year-old Thomas Kendall, of Harwich, standing outside of the vehicle on his phone. Kendall had suffered several injuries to his face and was profusely bleeding from his nose and left eye.
When Kendall began to gather his belongings from his car, Officer Mangano noticed that the front right end of the vehicle became engulfed in flames. Officer Mangano grabbed Kendall by the arm and escorted him to safety down the road.
Patrol Officers Andrew Coville, Jeff Rivett, and Patrol Sergeant Neal Donohue then arrived on scene, and led the occupying residence next door to safety.
Within seconds of Kendall being led to safety, the vehicle became fully engulfed in flames and resulted in a small explosion. The explosion managed to do further damage to some of the trees.
Yarmouth Firefighters arrived and exterminated the fire and medically assisted Kendall.
Officer Mangano detected Kendall’s speech to be slurred and found the odor of alcohol emitting from his breath. Kendall admitted to drinking tequila at a bar in Hyannis.
The Barnstable County Sheriff’s Crime Scene Unit arrived at the scene for photos and evidence collection services.
Kendall was transported to Cape Cod Hospital by Yarmouth Fire Department ambulance.
Eversource was notified of the damaged utility wires from the crash.
Kendall is charged with operating a motor vehicle negligently so as to endanger, OUI-liquor, and a marked lanes violation.
The Yarmouth Police Department notified the Registry of Motor Vehicles and his license will be suspended immediately.
By TIM DUNN, CapeCod.com News Center
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