Brake Failure Cited In Surfside Crash That Injured Two Boys

The Land Rover that struck and seriously injured two boys who were walking on the Surfside Road bicycle path last week suffered a brake failure which prompted the accident, according to a Nantucket Police Department crash report obtained Monday by the Current.

The driver of the 2004 Land Rover Discovery was identified in the report as Meghan Connell Peachey, of Nantucket. Last week Nantucket Police Lt. Angus MacVicar said "there's no question" one of the operators would be facing a host of charges related to the accident, but so far no one has been charged. Alcohol was not a factor in the crash, MacVicar said.

The two boys who were hit by the Land Rover last Wednesday suffered serious injuries and were rushed to Nantucket Cottage Hospital by ambulance. They were later transported by Medflight helicopter to a Boston hospital. A GoFundMe site has been established to assist them and their families through their recovery.

The police crash report refers to the Land Rover driven by Peachey as "vehicle 1" and the other vehicle involved in the accident, a 2012 Honda CR-V driven by Stacey Muise, as "vehicle 2."

Below is the narrative of the accident from the report:

"Vehicle 1 was traveling North on Surfside Rd while Vehicle 2 was traveling South on Surfside Rd. Pedestrian 1 was walking South on the Surfside Rd bike path crossing Miacomet Ave and Pedestrian 2 was walking to the right of Pedestrian 1. While approaching Miacomet Ave Vehicle 1 attempted to stop for a truck traveling in the same direction that was waiting for the Pedestrians to cross Miacomet Ave. Vehicle 1's brakes failed and it swerved left into the opposing lane towards Miacomet Ave. Vehicle 1 clipped Vehicle 2 in the right front corner of the vehicle with its right rear corner. Vehicle 1 continued across the bike path striking Pedestrian 1 and 2 on their left sides with the front right corner of the vehicle. Vehicle 1 continued turning left traveling through a small parking lot, striking a split rail fence on the North side of Miacomet Rd and continuing striking a split rail fence on the South side of Miacomet Rd and came to rest. Both vehicles were towed from the scene. Pedestrian 1 sustained a possible broken femur in his left leg while Pedestrian 2 suffered possible internal injuries. Both pedestrians were transported to Nantucket Cottage Hospital via EMS."