Driver Charged In Billerica Special Needs Van Crash

October 8, 2011 3:18 PM

21-year-old Melissa Rich is accused of being drunk when she crashed a van carrying special needs patients.

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BILLERICA (CBS) – The driver who crashed a van carrying special needs patients in Billerica is facing a number of charges because police say she was drunk.

An officer spotted 21-year-old Melissa Rich speeding down River Street Wednesday afternoon, going the wrong way. Police say the van swerved across the roadway, blew through two mailboxes, a telephone pole and several people’s yards before hitting a home.

Driver Charged In Billerica Special Needs Van Crash

A booking photo provided by Billerica police shows Melissa Rich. She's charged with Operating under the Influence of Alcohol causing Serious Bodily Injury.

The three adult special needs passengers in the van were all taken to Lahey Clinic in Burlington.

One of those passengers did suffer serious injuries.

Rich, a Dracut resident, is charged with operating under the influence of alcohol causing serious bodily injury.

james kasprzak

How who hired her. Another Hack.
Nosgoodforme

Again… has anyone ever took notice of some of these people they have watching the needy.. i rest my case…. many i would not doubt the role’s were reversed in whom was watching whom . This is inexcusable and sad.
Officer Krupke

21 , drunk and driving a van with special needs people inside. I hear that the cop told her she was on a one-way street and her reply was that she was only going one way. He then asked her why she didn’t see the arrows and her reply was that she didn’t even see the Indians. Great job, Melissa.
emom

she was only 21 and driving special needs adults,, are you serious,, she is by no means a seasoned driver and should should never have been able to drive such a van… By the way how long has she actually had her license,, Taking care of these people takes a lot of consentration,,,, its a hard job,, This would be a company that might need to be checked into to see how their record is… I wonder how many other violations they may have…. WHO IS CHECKING THESE PEOPLE, AND THEIR EMPLOYERS..