A 19-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of operating under the influence of drugs following a fatal accident on the Sagamore Bridge on Friday, which claimed the life of an elderly woman and left her husband seriously injured.
Paul Myers, a resident of Plymouth, is accused of attempting an illegal lane change, which resulted in his vehicle colliding with a Toyota Corolla, sending it into oncoming traffic and causing a head-on collision with another car.
The impact tragically killed 79-year-old Martha Sheldon, who was a passenger in the Corolla, and left her 83-year-old husband, Brian, seriously injured.
According to the Massachusetts State Police, troopers responded to the scene of the fatal crash at the base of the Sagamore Bridge on Route 6 West shortly before 7 p.m. on Friday.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Myers was driving in the left lane when he attempted to illegally pass a vehicle by shifting into the right lane. However, Myers’s vehicle failed to clear the distance needed and collided with the Toyota Corolla already traveling in the right lane.
The collision caused the Corolla to hit the curb, spin across the median, and crash into a car traveling in the opposite direction, leading to the death of Martha Sheldon and severe injuries to her husband.
Myers has been taken into custody and is facing charges related to operating under the influence of drugs.
Martha Sheldon’s family, particularly her son, shared a heartfelt tribute to her:
“To the best Mom in the world. I will miss you so much, Mom. I loved you with all my heart, and I hope to see you on the other side. I cannot believe that my mom died tonight in a car accident. It is so sad and devastating that you were taken from us in a second. I cannot put into words how much I loved you. I will miss you with all my heart, and you were the best mom any son could have asked for—loving, caring, thoughtful, and the best cook in the world. Also, just the nicest lady with the most honest heart and pure soul. God bless you, Mom. I love you so much, and I will miss you so much. By the grace of God, her husband Brian is still with us. I love you, Mom. I know you are reading this, and I will see you again when it’s my time,” he wrote in a social media post.
