1 dead, at least 19 injured after car drives through Massachusetts Apple store
By Amir Vera, Michelle Watson and Paul LeBlanc, CNN
One person is dead and at least 19 people are injured after a car drove through an Apple store in Hingham, Massachusetts, the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office said Monday.
Police identified Kevin Bradley, 65, of New Jersey, as the man who died at the scene, according to a news release from the district attorney’s office. The driver is not being identified at this time, the DA’s office said.
Around 10:45 a.m. numerous 911 calls came in for help at Derby Street Shops, District Attorney Tim Cruz said. Hingham police and fire personnel responded shortly thereafter to find several people injured at the Apple store, Cruz added.
“A dark-colored SUV appears, went through at a rate of speed undetermined, through a … glass window and struck multiple people,” Cruz said.
Responding units found “multiple patients injured out in front of the store and in the store, including a few patients that were pinned against the wall by the vehicle,” Hingham Fire Chief Steve Murhpy said during a news conference Monday.
There were seven fire engines and 14 ambulances on scene to treat the injured victims, Murphy said. The chief was unable to provide updates on victims’ conditions. Authorities are not releasing the names of the injured victims at this time as they are working on notifying family members, Cruz added.
South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, Massachusetts, was treating 17 patients from the crash as of Monday evening, the DA’s office told CNN in an email. Two other injured people initially taken to South Shore were transferred to hospitals in Boston.
The injuries included people with head trauma and mangled limbs, said Dr. William Tollefsen, who works at South Shore and was on scene after the crash to help triage patients.
Tollefsen said he and other first responders used a nearby restaurant during triage to keep people out of the cold.
South Shore’s chief of trauma, Dr. Christopher Burns, said they were treating multiple patients with life-threatening and limb-threatening injuries. Some had undergone surgery and others were still waiting, Burns said Monday afternoon.
Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston received two patients who are still hospitalized, according to a hospital spokesman. Boston Medical Center received three patients who are still in the hospital, a hospital spokesperson said to CNN via phone.
It’s unclear whether Brigham and Women’s and Boston Medical Center are including patients who were transferred to them in their total numbers.
Cruz said the investigation into the car crash is “active” and ongoing.
“Regarding the operator of the motor vehicle, we’re looking into that. Regarding the status of the motor vehicle, we’re looking into that,” Cruz said. The driver of the vehicle has not been taken to the hospital, according to Cruz.
“My understanding is he’s not been taken to the hospital as of yet,” Cruz said. “He is, right now, with police officers.”
When asked how many people were possibly inside the Apple store when the car crash occurred, Cruz noted that it is the beginning of a holiday week.
“Obviously the Apple store is a very busy place. It’s Monday of a holiday week,” Cruz said. “So therefore I don’t know exactly how many people were in there — I’m sure that we will find out.”
Hingham is about 20 miles south of Boston.
Apple’s Derby Street location in Hingham is currently closed, according to its website.
“We’re sorry for the inconvenience while this store is closed,” the website said. “Until we can reopen again, please consider using our online services.”
Apple released a statement Monday saying “our hearts go out to our team members and customers who were injured and all of those who were affected by this terrible incident.”
“We are devastated by the shocking events at Apple Derby Street today and the tragic loss of a professional who was onsite supporting recent construction at the store,” the company’s statement read. “We are doing everything we can to support our team members and customers at this very difficult time.”
The Apple store, which boasts a large glass storefront, is located in the back corner of the upscale Derby Street Shops. The entrance to the store faces a large parking lot that hundreds of visitors drive through daily.
The shopping area is especially busy during the holiday season, with the Apple store and the surrounding restaurants and shops garnering large crowds this time of year.
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CNN’s Braden Walker and Jennifer Henderson contributed to this report