Woburn Saw Fewer Car Crashes Last Year Than It Has In years

WOBURN, MA — There were 1,102 motor vehicle crashes in Woburn last year, down significantly from the last couple of years. In 2016, the city saw 1,275 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 available: 1,533 crashes.

The recent decline in the number of crashes reflects state trends. Across Massachusetts, the total number of crashes dropped slightly in 2019 and 2018 after increasing over the eight previous years. In Woburn, crash rates increased from 2013 to 2016, before dropping.

In 2019, two Woburn crashes resulted in fatal injuries, eight in serious injuries and 96 in minor injuries. 179 crashes had possible or unknown injuries, according to the data. The good news: the bulk of the crashes, 817, caused no injuries.

191 of Woburn's crashes last year were "older driver related," and 126 were "young driver related." There were also 12 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: Presidential Way and Commerce Way, Nashua Street and Green Street, and Main Street and Green Street.

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