Man Almost Got Away With It Again

[Henry]

Erik Olsen, 30, of Hyde Park, was arrested on Route 128 in Westford last year, after police say he crossed the centerline in his SUV, slammed head-on into one car and caromed into a second oncoming car. No one was seriously injured but police say it could easily have been a fatal.

Can't remember if anyone from Fairfax was one of the people he hit or not.  It was in a location where they have a caution light and where the majority of all the accidents I have heard of over the many years I travelled Route 128 occurred.

Police quickly learned Olsen was under a lifetime suspension for six reckless driving convictions, including sideswiping and killing a motorcyclist in Massachusetts in 1997.

He went to prison for that, but only for 30 days, and it didn't show up on his Vermont record.

Anyhow, while prosecutor Donovan was on vacation two months ago, Judge Jeffrey Crawford-- not knowing Olsen's record-- tentatively agreed to a sentence of just 60 days in jail.

Wednesday, with Olsen waiting outside the courtroom with his wife and mother, the judge learned the rest of the record and upped the sentence to at least 18 months behind bars.

Pat La Rose-- an eyewitness to the Westford crash-- was also in court Wednesday because she wanted to be sure Olsen got justice this time.

She said, "If he was not under the influence of anything, then the only thing that I can conclude is that he has a dangerous case of "entitlement;" I need to get where I'm going, and you're in my way. I'm going to go through you."

To read the rest of the story, click on the following link:

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=9948768

[mirjo]

Mark Wood from Fairfax was driving the little red car that was hit. He was on his way home from IBM. I know the family and was around the day this happened.