Michael Pitts, 59, of Taunton, Died in Dedham Collision With an Eversource Truck Near 961 Washington Street
DEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS (September 9, 2026) – A 59-year-old man identified as Michael Pitts has tragically died in a Dedham utility truck accident in the area of 961 Washington Street.
Norfolk County officials are saying that the accident occurred around 11:14 PM on Friday night. Michael Pitts was heading down the road in his pickup truck when he was struck by an Eversource utility truck.
There are few details about what may have led up to the crash. However, a photo of the crash aftermath appears to show that the utility truck involved may have been making a left turn.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision to help the victim. Tragically, Michael Pitts died due to the severe nature of his injuries.
A full investigation into the cause of the collision remains ongoing at this time.
DiBella Law remains committed to improving public safety and increasing transparency through our Free Police Report program. If you’ve been involved in any type of accident that required a police response, we can help you get a copy of the police report created at no cost or obligation to you.
Liability for Dedham Truck Accidents
Massachusetts law requires drivers to exercise due care to avoid collisions with pedestrians and other vehicles. They must yield the right of way to any oncoming traffic before initiating any left turn as required by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 89, Section 8. Drivers must continue yielding until the turn can be made with reasonable safety given the prevailing conditions that they encounter. Courts will take into consideration numerous factors when evaluating liability for any truck accident.
- Traffic Signals: They will consider the traffic signal timing and lane markings as a point of impact.
- Speed: The speed of all vehicles involved will also be taken into consideration.
- Surveillance: Surveillance footage can help reveal what a driver was doing immediately prior to any major collision.
- Work Records: It also matters whether or not any driver may have been working at the time of a collision.
There is a presumption of negligence on the part of any driver that turns into the path of another vehicle. Liability for a collision could extend beyond any specific driver determined to be at fault if that driver was actually working at the time of the crash. Consider, for example, Catanese v. MacEntee, 333 Mass. 132. A pedestrian was injured after a city-owned truck made a left turn at an intersection and struck them. Attorneys for the plaintiff argued that the truck driver was negligent and should’ve yielded, thereby avoiding the pedestrian entirely. The court held that there was sufficient evidence for a jury to find that the truck driver acted negligently.
Business Safety Practices That Can Help Prevent Truck Collisions
Far too many people are seriously injured or killed every year in preventable accidents involving commercial trucks. According to one report by the NHTSA, there were an estimated 5,375 large trucks involved in fatal collisions in 2023 alone. This accounted for roughly 9.2% of all fatal collisions that year. Commercial trucks can be particularly dangerous due to their weight and large blind spots. Preventing large truck accidents depends not only on the decisions made by truck drivers, but also on the business practices of commercial carriers that own the trucks. What follows are some of the measures that businesses can take to prevent these collisions.
- Scheduling: Dispatch policies at trucking companies should allow sufficient time for drivers to complete their route without feeling the need to rush or speed.
- Route Planning: Truck companies should design routes that eliminate as many left turns as possible. These are among the most dangerous maneuvers that drivers can make.
- Maintenance: Companies should ensure that their vehicles are periodically inspected and well maintained.
- Driver Qualification and Supervision: Truck companies should ensure that their drivers have the appropriate license for the class of vehicle that they will be using. They should also properly supervise those drivers.
Truck accidents tend to be highly preventable in many different settings. They often involve drivers that are rushing or not properly scanning the road ahead of them. Unfortunately, many truck companies are more concerned with shortening delivery times as quickly as possible. This can lead to the adoption of unsafe driving practices that jeopardize everyone on the roadway. The family of any person who died in a collision due to the negligent actions of a truck driver or truck company may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim.
Investigating Dedham Truck Accidents
We at DiBella Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Michael Pitts. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. This was a preventable tragedy that should’ve never taken place. It is our sincere hope that all of the responsible parties will be held accountable. This collision also raises important safety questions that need to be addressed. What is the safety record of the utility truck driver involved? Is there a history of similar accidents at this particular location?
Do you need more information about a truck accident in Dedham? Our team of accident investigators is here to help you. We are committed to helping people understand their rights and holding negligent drivers fully responsible for their actions. You can rest assured that we will do everything in our power to get to the bottom of what may have caused any particular collision. Whether you just have legal questions or need any other type of assistance, we may be able to help you. You are always welcome to contact us anytime at (855) 649-2674.