Two Separate Motorcycle Fatalities This Weekend on the SouthCoast
Bristol County District Attorney’s Office
Thomas M. Quinn III
District Attorney
Press Release
June 24, 2019
Massachusetts State Police Troopers from the District Attorney’s office responded to two separate motorcycle crashes in the SouthCoast this weekend that resulted in fatalities.
The first incident occurred On Route 18 near the intersection with Walnut Street in New Bedford on Saturday evening around 7 pm. When police and rescue personnel arrived on scene, they located the victim, Andrew Mindyas, 63, of Westport, and rushed him to St. Luke’s Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
The preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was travelling at a high rate of speed through the intersection when he struck the curb, entered the center median and struck a large cobblestone planter. No other vehicles were involved in the incident.
The second fatal crash occurred on Sunday around 6:35 a.m. at the intersection of Route 177 and Tickle Road in Westport. When Westport Police and rescue personnel arrived on scene, they located the victim, Cornelis Blom, 67, of Somerset, off the roadway in a wooded area. He was determined to be deceased on scene by paramedics.
The preliminary investigation revealed that the victim, who was operating a Ducati motorcycle in the westbound lane of travel on Route 177 struck the side of a Ford Ranger as the Ranger turned onto Route 177 from Tickle Road. The operator of the Ford Ranger, a 48-year-old Westport man, remained at the scene of the crash and was cooperative with investigators. Alcohol or drugs do not appear to have any role in the collision. Massachusetts State Police Accident Reconstruction analysis is ongoing. No charges have been filed at this time.
Contact:
Gregg Miliote
Director of Communications
508-997-0711
774-292-9576–cell