Wareham resident cited in Route 6 collision

Sep 27, 2013

Citations have been issued to the driver of a vehicle involved in a September 19 two-car accident on Route 6 in Marion, where first-responders tended to three injured people, including a 3-year-old boy who was flown to Childrens Hospital in Boston for treatment.

The crash occurred at about 2 p.m. near the Creek Road intersection. One of the cars, a Jeep Compass, had severe front-end damage and came to a stop on the sidewalk of the westbound lane of Route 6. The second vehicle, a Toyota Tundra, also had a severely damaged hood and straddled the highway's center line.

Police say an investigation found Danielle Zahara, the operator of the Jeep Compass, had crossed over into the oncoming lane of traffic and crashed head on into Mark Lilja, 24, the operator of the Toyota Tundra pick-up. The child was a passenger in Zahara’s vehicle.

Zahara was cited and will be summoned to Wareham District Court on the following charges: Operating under the influence of drugs; operating under the influence of drugs, reckless operation and causing serious injury; operating under the influence of drugs/child endangerment; operating to endanger/negligent operation of a motor vehicle; possession of class B drugs; possession of class C drugs; possession of class E drugs; and marked lanes violation, according to police.

She was also given a civil citation and a fine of $100 for possession of marijuana, according to police.

Zahara and Lilja, both of Wareham, were transported to Tobey Hospital in Wareham for treatment. No further information is available on the extent of the 3-year-old's injuries.

Route 6 between Creek Road and Point Road in Marion was closed for approximately 30 minutes as police diverted traffic around the accident. State police and officers from Mattapoisett, Rochester, and Wareham responded.

Several bystanders reported hearing the collision. “It was just a loud bang,” said Kathy Thompson, of Marion.

Office workers in the area were also drawn outside. One man described the sound as “brakes, tire, pavement.”