On Friday, Sept. 5, my 17-year-old daughter was involved in a traffic accident at the Concord rotary.
I know what you’re thinking: a teenager in a car accident, what a surprise! Except in this instance, my daughter wasn’t at fault. She was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The driver at fault is a resident of Harvard.
According to the state trooper who responded to the accident, on average there are two to three accidents per day at the Concord rotary. Most people think, incorrectly, that you can turn onto Route 2 from the inside lane. As the trooper pointed out to the Harvard driver after he cited the driver with a ticket, you can’t assume that the driver to your right is also turning onto Route 2. That’s what happened in this accident: my daughter was driving in the outer lane of the rotary heading toward Barretts Mill Road and the Harvard driver turned into her when attempting to get onto Route 2.
The Concord rotary, the trooper explained further, is sized not for two lanes of traffic, but to accommodate tractor trailers.
While it is of great relief that no one was injured in the accident, what’s terribly disappointing is the behavior of the other driver, who is both an adult and a parent. The Harvard driver was rude, angry, and belligerent with my daughter and argumentative with the state trooper. After getting the citation, the Harvard driver left the scene of the accident and then returned. The state trooper was so concerned about my daughter’s welfare that when the Harvard driver left again, he stayed with my daughter to ensure that the other driver didn’t return again.
I would, of course, expect the Harvard driver to hire a high-priced lawyer to attempt to overturn the citation. That is their right. I would hope that they also pick up their phone and apologize to my daughter. If they don’t, I have three words for them: Shame on you.
Blaine Alvarez-Backus
Lancaster, Mass.
