MARLBOROUGH – A woman was arraigned in a fatal crash on Route 290 from 2018.
Monica Buck has been charged with misdemeanor motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation and a state highway traffic violation. She was arraigned in Marlborough District Court on Aug. 21.
State Police were called to a two-vehicle crash on eastbound Route 290 near mile marker 18.8 on Oct. 4, 2018 at 10:01 a.m.
According to the statement of facts filed in Marlborough District Court, a Dodge Caliber was driving in the left lane and slowed to a stop approaching the Route 290 and Route 495 interchange. As the Dodge slowed down, a Jeep Cherokee failed to stop and crashed into the rear of the Dodge, troopers wrote.
“The crash resulted in major damage to both vehicles as well as injuries to all the vehicles operators and passengers,” State Police wrote.
One of the passengers of the Dodge was Michaela Cassidy, who was pronounced dead days after the crash due to her injuries.
According to the statement of facts, investigators wrote that Buck had taken Zoloft and Hydroxyzine that morning and slept through her alarm and was driving to work. State Police said that they learned that Buck had been using her phone “minutes before the crash.”
During her arraignment, Buck pled not guilty and was released on her own recognizance. She will return to court in October.
Her attorney declined to comment.
