BOSTON

Boy, 8, backs car out of his driveway, into another house

Additional Photos

Boston firefighters work to support the porch of a home after an 8-year-old boy backed his mother’s BMW out of their driveway across the street and crashed it Wednesday. No one was hurt. The Associated Press

Authorities say an 8-year-old Boston boy backed his mother’s BMW out of the driveway and crashed it into the porch of the house across the street.

Officials say neither the boy nor anyone in the home was hurt in the accident in the city’s Dorchester neighborhood at about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. The porch and foundation suffered an estimated $80,000 in damage.

The car, with its trunk ripped off and rear window smashed in, had to be towed from the scene. One official says the vehicle was probably traveling at about 30 miles per hour.

MARBLEHEAD, Mass.

Town shoots down ban on operating leaf blowers

It’s still OK to use leaf blowers in Marblehead. Town Meeting attendees on Tuesday voted 285-211 to defeat a partial ban on the yard maintenance devices.

Christopher Bergonzi had at first proposed a complete ban on leaf blowers, saying their emissions were a public health risk. He compared leaf blower emissions with second-hand smoke.

But he later amended that, proposing a ban on gas-powered leaf blowers between May 15 and Sept. 15 while still allowing battery-powered and electric leaf blowers.

The Daily Item reports that resident Edward Friedman questioned Bergonzi’s scientific research and said leaf blowers are hardly used between May 15 and Sept. 15 anyway, making the article irrelevant.

MASON, N.H.

Man found dead in home after police respond to call

New Hampshire State Police say a man was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot Wednesday afternoon following what they believed to be a standoff in the town of Mason.

The Nashua Telegraph reported that Mason police officers were asked to conduct a welfare check at the home on Jackson Road Wednesday morning. An officer called for backup after hearing a single gunshot from inside the home.

Witnesses told the newspaper that as many as 20 to 25 police cruisers eventually responded to the scene, along with an armored vehicle. Negotiators used the vehicle’s public address system to try to contact whoever was inside.

State police say they later sent a robot into the home and found the man dead.

FALL RIVER, Mass.

Man mugged just down the street from police station

A Fall River man didn’t have to go far for help when he was mugged on a city street this week.

Police say the man was robbed of $60 on the same block as the police station.

Two officers were pulling out of the station at about 4 p.m. Monday when they were flagged down by a 38-year-old man.

The man said a gray pickup truck pulled up beside him and a white male stepped out of the vehicle and demanded money. The victim said the suspect punched him, knocked him to the ground and took the cash.

The victim was bruised but refused medical assistance.

OSSIPEE, N.H.

Man accused in attack waives right to hearing

A New Hampshire man accused of attacking his girlfriend with a rock and pushing her into a campfire in Wolfeboro has waived his right to a probable cause hearing.

Thirty-one-year-old David Ford, who police say is homeless, is being held without bail on charges of attempted murder, first- and second-degree assault, reckless conduct and criminal trespassing.

Fosters Daily Democrat reports that the case has been turned over to the Ossipee Superior Court and will soon go before a grand jury.

The victim suffered first and second-degree burns and several broken bones in her face from the attack.

— From news service reports

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