WHITMAN, Mass. — One person was killed and several others were taken to the hospital after a crash in Whitman Thursday.
The crash happened around 4 p.m. on Auburn Street and one of the vehicles involved was a van carrying patients with special needs.
“The bang was extremely loud. I thought something hit the house, and that's when I looked out and I went, 'oh no, this isn't good,’” Phyllis Ashton, a neighbor, said. “One of the women in the car didn't look like she was responding too well.”
Police said a white Nissan crossed over the center line and struck the wheelchair transport passenger van head on.
The passenger of the Nissan, Francine Latersa of Plymouth, was taken to Brockton Hospital, where she later died. The driver of the Nissan suffered serious injuries, but is expected to survive.
Lailer, a long-time EMT and nurse, jumped in the van and was able to coordinate with police to get patients with special needs out.
“We were running an errand down the street, my husband had the scanner, we heard they needed extra help and I've been involved in EMS for close to thirty years so we just pulled over and helped,” she said.
The District Attorney said all three people in the van were taken to the hospital for minor injuries.
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