Auto auction site where 5 died fined $267,000


Save Story

Estimated read time: Less than a minute

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

BILLERICA, Mass. (AP) — A federal workers' safety agency is recommending $267,081 in penalties for a Massachusetts auto auction house where five people died when a vehicle suddenly accelerated into a crowd.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, announced Thursday it was citing Lynnway Auto Auction in Billerica for a range of infractions, including blocked exit routes, electrical hazards and record-keeping deficiencies.

The OSHA inspection came after a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by a Lynnway employee apparently lurched out of control and crashed through a wall on May 3, killing two Rhode Island residents, three Massachusetts residents and injuring seven others.

Lynnway Auto President Jim Lamb said Thursday the "majority" of the infractions were "unrelated" to that accident and are being resolved.

The company has installed fixed bollards to serve as barriers and taken other safety measures.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Most recent Business stories

Related topics

The Associated Press
    KSL.com Beyond Series
    KSL.com Beyond Business

    KSL Weather Forecast

    KSL Weather Forecast
    Play button