Man Pinned Under Pickup Truck After It Crashed Into His Brayton Avenue Apartment
FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS (October 24, 2026) – A man was injured in a Fall River truck accident after a pickup truck crashed through the wall of his first-floor apartment on Brayton Avenue.
Fall River police officials are saying that the call came in just before 8:00 a.m. on Saturday for a truck into a home at 646 Brayton Avenue. A witness told reporters that the driver of a white pickup truck sped down the street, went over a barrier and crashed into the building.
A woman who lives in the apartment said her boyfriend was lying on their couch when the truck came through the wall. She said concrete fell from the ceiling and he was pinned down.
First responders reportedly found the man trapped beneath the truck and the driver trapped inside it. Firefighters spent roughly 30 to 40 minutes freeing the man while live wires sparked from the house and the truck. National Grid cut power to the building so crews could keep working.
According to Fall River Police Lieutenant Matthew Mendes, the man sustained what appear to be non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Rhode Island Hospital. Two other people were reportedly taken to local hospitals. The damage displaced everyone living in the building.
The driver of the pickup truck, a 49-year-old man, was taken into custody at the scene. He was arraigned Monday on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, leaving the scene of personal injury, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and a marked lanes violation. He pleaded not guilty and is being held without bail on dangerousness grounds, with a pre-trial hearing scheduled for November 24.
A full investigation into the circumstances surrounding 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 Fall River Truck Accidents
Every driver in Massachusetts has a duty to operate their vehicle with reasonable care. Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 89, Section 4A (M.G.L. c. 89, § 4A), when any way has been divided into lanes, “the driver of a vehicle shall so drive that the vehicle shall be entirely within a single lane, and he shall not move from the lane in which he is driving until he has first ascertained if such movement can be made with safety.”
Courts will consider a number of factors when evaluating liability for any truck accident.
- Speed: Courts will look at how fast the truck was traveling before it left the road.
- Lane Position: Courts will review where the truck left its lane and whether it went over any barrier before impact.
- Driver Condition: Courts will consider whether distraction, fatigue, impairment or a medical event played a role.
- Surveillance: Courts will review any video footage and witness accounts of the moments before the crash.
A driver who leaves the roadway and strikes a home may be found negligent for failing to keep control of their vehicle. A driver who leaves the scene of a crash that injured someone may also face both criminal charges and civil liability.
Consider, for example, Olofson v. Kilgallon, 362 Mass. 803 (1973). In that case, passengers in a taxicab were hurt when the cab was struck from behind while stopped at a red light in Harvard Square. The other driver left the scene without identifying himself. The Supreme Judicial Court found there was sufficient evidence of negligence and noted that leaving the scene could be considered as further proof of liability, though it would not establish liability on its own.
Steps To Take After Roadway Departure Accidents
Far too many people are seriously injured or killed every year in preventable accidents involving vehicles that leave the roadway. According to the Federal Highway Administration, “From 2016 to 2018 an average of 19,158 fatalities resulted from roadway departures, which is 51 percent of all traffic fatalities in the United States.” These crashes happen when a vehicle crosses an edge line or center line or otherwise leaves the traveled way, and they can send vehicles into fixed objects, homes and businesses.
- Medical Treatment: Victims should seek medical treatment as early as possible, even if injuries seem minor.
- Records: Police reports, ambulance records and medical records should be collected and preserved.
- Photos: Photos should be taken of the damage to the property and of any injuries.
- Witnesses: The names and contact information of anyone who saw the crash should be gathered.
- Legal Guidance: Victims should seek guidance from a legal team experienced in accident claims.
Crashes like this are often preventable. Many involve drivers who were speeding or not paying attention to the road ahead of them. These cases can also be complex, especially when a vehicle defect or road design may have played a role. Any person injured in a roadway departure accident may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a personal injury claim.
Investigating Fall River Truck Accidents
We at DiBella Law extend our best wishes to the man injured in this Fall River truck accident as he continues to recover. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to the Fall River Police Department.
This crash raises important safety questions. What caused the pickup truck to leave the road and go over the barrier? Is the barrier along this stretch of Brayton Avenue enough to protect the people who live there?
Have you or a loved one been injured in a truck accident in Massachusetts? You may be entitled to significant financial compensation. Our team of experienced truck accident attorneys is here to support you. We are committed to helping victims get the medical and financial assistance that they need to recover and move forward with their lives. Whether you just have legal questions or need any other type of support, we are here to help you. You can reach out to us anytime at 617-600-0000.
Get in touch with us today to get a free consultation.