North Andover Saw Fewer Crashes Last Year Than 2018

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — There were 521 motor vehicle crashes in North Andover last year, down from 2018. 2018's 574 crashes tied with 2008 for the most since 2007, when Massachusetts Department of Transportation crash data begins. 2018 marked a major jump from 2017, when there were just 416 crashes.

North Andover's crash trends do not closely track 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 North Andover has fluctuated over the 13 years of data.

In 2019, there were no fatal injuries in North Andover, eight serious injury crashes and 34 crashes with minor injuries. 75 crashes had possible or unknown injuries, according to the data. The good news: the bulk of the crashes, 404, caused no injuries.

106 of North Andover's crashes last year were "older driver related," and 109 were "younger driver related." There were also four pedestrian-related crashes, three bicyclist-related crashes, and five motorcycle-related crashes.

According to intersection data from 2014-2016, the latest period it is available, the three locations with the most crashes were: Chickering Road and Massachusetts Avenue, Turnpike Street and Peters Street, and Andover Street and Turnpike Street.

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