Charges Filed Against Driver Who Hit Two Boys In Bike Path

Nantucket Police have charged the driver of a Land Rover who hit two boys walking on the Surfside Road bicycle path last week with multiple violations, including negligent operation of a motor vehicle and speeding.

Meghan Connell Peachey, of Nantucket, was identified by police as the operator of the 2004 Land Rover Discovery that careened into the intersection of Surfside Road and Miacomet Avenue just before 5 p.m. last Wednesday after the vehicle's brakes failed. She struck another car before hitting the two boys who suffered serious injuries and were rushed to Nantucket Cottage Hospital by ambulance. They were later transported to Boston by Medflight helicopter for treatment of their injuries.

Following the accident reconstruction process, Peachey was charged this week with negligent operation, speeding, driving without an inspection, and operating a motor vehicle with defective equipment (brakes). Nantucket Police Lt. Angus MacVicar said alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

A GoFundMe site has been established to assist the two victims and their families through their recovery.

A police crash report obtained by the Current 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."