Newton Police Search For Three Crash Suspects Called Off

NEWTON, MA — The shelter in place order at three Newton schools has been lifted, and police are no longer actively searching for the three people believed to have left a nearby car crash.

"Around 8 a.m. this morning there was a single car crash on the westbound off ramp in Newton on Exit 16," said Lt. Bruce Apotheker, a police spokesperson. A car was headed wrong way on the ramp when it crashed into guardrail, he said. Apotheker said as of 11 a.m. the search was called off.

No word on the status of the investigation. But Apotheker did say the three had not been found.

Police spent the morning searching for three people who reportedly left a crash near the Mass. Pike.

A woman reported to police that she saw the car in question left on the off ramp near West Newton Square. The woman told police around 7:55 a.m. she saw two white men both in their 20s, one rather short wearing jeans and a light colored sweatshirt and another man taller with what appeared to be wet hair holding a red sweater. The witness said she also saw a white woman described as short. All three were walking near the top of the off ramp just before 8 a.m., according to radio reports.

Local, state, and MBTA police canvased neighborhoods around Newton, State Police said Friday morning. The State Police Air Wing and K-9 units were also being used to assist. Oak Avenue was blocked off.

Early reports indicated that the individuals may have been involved in a fatal hit and run Thursday night in Back Bay that killed an 80-year-old man, thus the all out search. But the driver of the dump truck from that crash was found a short time later in Weston, according to police.

Earlier Burr Elementary, Pierce Elementary; and Franklin Elementary were given notice to shelter in place during the search, and were not under lockdown as some media outlets were reporting.

"Due to police activity in the West Newton area, the Newton Police Department asked that all Northside schools briefly Shelter-In-Place.... A Shelter-In Place means that regular activities continue inside the school but students and staff do not go outside," read a note the superintendent sent home.

Patch will update this story

Photo and additional reporting by Jenna Fisher/Patch

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