Driver In Horrific Auto Auction Crash Says Car Accelerated On Its Own

QUINCY, MA -- The driver of a Jeep that crashed into a crowd at the Lynnway Auto Auction in Billerica on Wednesday told WHDH that the Jeep accelerated on its own.

“All of a sudden just decides, bang, it accelerates, which I had no knowledge of until it was too late,” said the driver, who did not give his name.

He said he tried to avoid hitting people in the crowd but the area was too small.

Three people were killed and nine injured after the Jeep drove into the crowd of people viewing cars at the auto auction.

Brenda Lopez, 48, of Rhode Island, and Pantaleon Santos, 49, of Rhode Island, were pronounced dead at the scene. Leezandra Aponte, 36, of Lowell, was transported to Lahey Hospital where she was later pronounced dead.

The driver, who is in his 70's, suffered a broken foot and hand.

He said he did not even have his foot on the gas pedal. The Jeep may have been defective, he said.

“The car all by itself just accelerated,” said the driver. “Not by me pushing on the gas or anything else. I just had my feet on the floor not pushing anything.”

According to state records, the man’s driver’s license was suspended in 2012 and expired in 2015. Jim Lamb, the president of the Lynnway Auto Auction, said he hired the man in 2010 and he had a valid Massachusetts driver’s license at the time. Lamb said the driver never had any issues while driving for Lynnway for the past seven years.

“I’m obviously very upset about that,” said the driver. “And I was wishing somehow I could bring that to an event that didn’t happen. And how can I express that I am unhappy and very, very sorry that it happened.”

The driver has not been charged and the investigation is ongoing.

For more on this story see WHDH Ch.7 Boston.

Courtesy photo by John Guilfoil Public Relations.

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