Medway, Massachusetts — A sudden, lonely morning turned tragic Thursday when a Roslindale man, identified as 50-year-old Jude Espazien, lost his life in a single-car crash on Summer Street (Route 126). The word on the street and from police was grim: the vehicle veered off the road around 8:50 a.m., smashed into a front yard and burst into flames.
Espazien was driving northbound near Amelia Drive when his car left the pavement without warning. Investigators haven’t determined why the car suddenly ran off the road. Medway Police Chief William Kingsbury said the crash was “unwitnessed” and that there may never be a clear cause. “We will likely never know,” he told reporters.
The car first struck a utility pole, shearing it off near the base, and then slammed into a granite-bottomed mailbox before coming to rest on the lawn of a home at 26 Summer Street. The impact was so severe that the vehicle erupted into flames almost instantly.
Two bystanders, drawn by the roar and crash, rushed toward the burning car. Without hesitation, they broke through the chaos of smoke and heat, pulled Espazien from the wreckage, and dragged him to safety up the street. Both escaped without physical injuries, though one was visibly shaken and taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation.
Firefighters and EMS were on scene within minutes, but despite the courageous efforts of first responders, Espazien was gravely injured. He was transported by ambulance to Milford Regional Medical Center, where emergency staff fought to save him. He was later pronounced dead.
Throughout the morning, Summer Street remained closed between Main and Milford streets as police, fire crews and the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section combed the scene for clues. Investigators are still trying to piece together the moments leading up to the crash, but at this time they have no indication of speeding or attempted braking.
Neighbours and residents gathered quietly near the scene, some shaking their heads, others whispering prayers. The heart of this community is mourning a life cut short, and the questions left in the cold winter air — why, how, and what really happened — may linger longer than anyone wants. In the days ahead, police hope to offer more answers once next of kin have been notified and official reports are completed.
