Boston City Councilor Kendra Lara ‘regularly’ drove to City Hall despite revoked license

BOSTON — Although City Councilor Kendra Lara has not held a valid driver’s license since 2013, she “regularly” drove to work at Boston City Hall, a city spokesperson said Thursday.

After receiving a records request for camera footage of the executive garage, city officials reviewed the footage and found Lara regularly drove a dark gray Honda Civic to work, a city spokesperson told Boston 25 News.

The vehicle description matches the car that police say Lara was driving when it collided with the side of Jaimaca Plain home on June 30.

According to a newly released Boston Police report, Lara was driving 53 mph in a 25 mph zone when she crashed into the home with her son Zaire in the car in late June. The report also says Lara had her driver’s license suspended in 2013 after failing to pay the fine for a seat belt violation before having it revoked following a 2015 citation in Connecticut.

Officers responded to a motor vehicle accident with injuries at 803 Centre Street Friday afternoon. Upon arrival, officers observed the vehicle inside the home’s left side.

Lara’s vehicle went through the metal fence outside the home, then crashed into and drove over the bushes before colliding with the left side of the house, causing significant damage to the home, police noted.

Upon investigation, Councilor Lara was traveling inbound on Centre Street when another car began to pull away from the curb. According to the report, Lara swerved the car left to avoid a collision with the other vehicle and could not hit the brakes fast enough before colliding with into home.

Lara had her child in the backseat of the vehicle but not in a booster or car seat according to an officer. According to Boston police, “All children riding in passenger motor vehicles must be in a federally approved child passenger restraint that is properly fastened and secured until they are 8 years of age or over 57 inches tall. Children older than 8 years of age or taller than 57 inches must wear seat belts.” Lara stated she and her son were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.

The child suffered injuries including bruising around the left eye and a deep laceration on the left eyebrow. Both Lara and her son were treated at Children’s Hospital.

DCF was contacted as a result of the child not being in the car seat.

According to the city’s payroll, Lara was paid $99,519.25 in 2022.

The owner of the home Lara crashed into told Boston 25 News the crash was a frightening experience.

“It was a shock. Anybody would be shocked to find a car on their lawn up against their house,” said Georgia Kalogerakis. “I am very thankful, anybody could have been walking by so we have to be thankful it wasn’t worse.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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