Woman dies in violent crash involving Somerset Police cruiser

SOMERSET, Mass. — A 21-year-old woman has died in a violent collision in Somerset involving a police cruiser.

Hailey Allard's dream was to be a pediatric nurse.

“She was going into her third year of nursing. Looking forward to going back,” her grandmother, Jeanne Allard, told Boston 25 News.

Police say Hailey and a Somerset Police cruiser collided just before 12:30 a.m. Friday morning on Route 138.

The cruiser was on the way to a call for someone breaking into a vehicle. Police say Hailey Allard's car was getting ready to take a left off of 138 when the vehicles hit head on.

"[They] bounced off each other, the officer's cruiser went into the telephone pole and the other car was spun around," Somerset Police Chief George McNeil said.

The district attorney’s office told Boston 25 News they are trying to determine how it happened.

“We were in bed and I heard a crunch, a bad, loud crunch. It wasn't a smash. It was a crunch,” witness Mike Murray said.

Several witnesses ran outside and saw the officer trying to help the victim out.

Dave Lavoie is the one who helped the officer get out.

"I opened the door and helped him out of the vehicle," Lavoie said. "His words to me were, ‘I think they cut in front of me.’”

First responders tried reviving Hailey, but police say she did not survive.

Her family told Boston 25, "Hailey was an exceptional young woman who was full of life & energy. Her smile was infectious & brightened everyone's day … Her mother & father cannot express the heaviness in their hearts & the pain they will carry forever."

"She was a great kid. A great kid. Just a nice kid. She's going to be missed by a lot of people,” Jeanne said.

The police officer, identified as Somerset Police officer Jonathan Neveu, was taken to Rhode Island Hospital where he was treated and released.

Mass. State Police is handling the investigation.

Hailey Allard's family sent the following statement to Boston 25 News:

On Behalf of the family of Hailey Allard we would like to start out by saying this is a complete & utter tragedy. Hailey was an exceptional young woman who was full of life & energy. Her smile was infectious & brightened everyone's day. Hailey was studying pediatric nursing while working as a dietary aid at CMH.She was ambitious always working two jobs, while being a full time nursing student at U Mass Dartmouth,as well as a resident attend.She loved her family with all her heart, especially her 2 younger brothers. Her mother & father can not express the heaviness in their hearts & the pain they will carry forever.  As of right now police have not been in contact with family on level in regards to event that surround the accident. Family ask respectfully for privacy at this time. 

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