Chief Grateful For Community Support After Last Week's Crash

Chief Grateful For Community Support After Last Week's Crash Tara Vocino Reporter TEMPLETON — Police Chief Michael R. Bennett, of Baldwinville, said the support  and well wishes from the community has been great after he was involved in a  three-car accident in his cruiser while on duty at 7:48 a.m. on Thursday. Bennett, who wasn’t injured, explained how the accident occurred on Route 68  South, just before the intersection of Old Winchendon Road and 218 Main St.,  heading east, last week. “I was parked at the intersection to allow a pedestrian walking his dog to cross,”  Bennett said. “It was a three-car accident — vehicle 1 went into vehicle 2, causing vehicle 2  to rear end my vehicle.” Kate Lynn Martin, of West Winchendon, was issued a $20 ticket for failure to use  care in stopping when her 2007 Chevrolet Equinox hit Royalston resident Karen  L. Hager’s 2009 Kia Sportage. Both Martin and Hager were taken to Heywood Hospital for minor injuries. Bennett said the extent of the car damage has yet to be determined. State Police Sgt. Jody M. Greene said Bennett’s 2015 Ford Taurus has rear end  damage, but he predicts that it is still drivable. “It was a very simple, basic accident,” Greene said. “The fact that a local chief was involved makes it more newsworthy.” Greene said Martin saw Hager’s brake lights, but she wasn’t able to stop in time. “The chief was stopped in the crosswalk when the vehicle behind him stopped,”  Greene said. “The vehicle behind them didn’t.” However, Greene said speeding wasn’t a factor. Bennett’s cruiser remains at the Department of Public Works garage.