Burlington Saw Fewer Car Crashes Last Year Than Recently

BURLINGTON, MA — There were 693 motor vehicle crashes in Burlington last year, down from the last couple of years. In 2017, the town saw 791 crashes, the most in the last decade, according to Massachusetts Department of Transportation data. The highest number in available data was in 2007, the first year with data: 958.

The decline in the number of crashes reflects state trends. Across Massachusetts, the total number of crashes dropped slightly in 2019 and 2018 after increasing in each of the eight previous years. Meanwhile the number of crashes in Burlington has fluctuated over the 13 years of data.

In 2019, there were no fatal injuries in Burlington, 6 serious injury crashes and 72 crashes minor injuries. 70 crashes had possible or unknown injuries, according to the data. The good news: the bulk of the crashes, 545, caused no injuries.

126 of Burlington's crashes last year were "older driver related," and 98 were "younger driver related." There were also six pedestrian-related crashes, two bicyclist-related crashes, and 10 motorcycle-related crashes.

According to intersection data from 2014-2016, the latest period it is available, the three locations with the most crashes were: Middlesex Turnpike and Wheeler Road, Cambridge Street near Terry Avenue, and Cambridge Street and Birchcrest Street.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.