ABINGTON — A car crash occurred in Abington, Massachusetts on Wednesday morning, resulting in the death of 17-year-old driver Sebastian Hamilton. The incident involved a Hyundai Santa Fe that had been reported stolen from Brockton and led to the death of a second teenage passenger.

The Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office stated that at around 7:50 a.m. on Wednesday, July 29, Abington officers spotted the Hyundai Santa Fe and tried to initiate a stop before it left the roadway. An Abington police officer attempted to pull over the vehicle after identifying it as stolen.

The vehicle crashed into a tree at 877 Washington Street. Hamilton, 17, was the driver of the vehicle and died at the scene. A second teenage passenger died from injuries sustained in the crash.

There were five people aged 14 to 17 inside the vehicle at the time of the crash. Three other teenagers in the vehicle were hospitalized with serious or life-threatening injuries. One female passenger was ejected from the vehicle during the crash.

Keshawn Drake, 14, was a passenger in the vehicle and is undergoing spine surgery. Melissa Clark, a neighbor, witnessed a female passenger being ejected onto a lawn. "There was a loud explosion, which was a car hitting a tree, and there was a woman ejected from the vehicle on the neighbors' lawn," Melissa Clark said.

Mindy Redman, a witness, reported hearing excessive speed and a large crash. Abington Fire Chief Jack Glynn described the crash scene as a traumatic situation that required first responders to operate at the highest levels they had to give. The Abington police officer involved in the pursuit was placed on administrative leave.

Police Chief John Bonney stated the officer's leave was for well-being and not punitive. Police Chief Bonney stated he does not know if Hamilton stole the vehicle. "I don't even know if he stole it. He was just driving a stolen motor vehicle, and that's why the pursuit initiated," Police Chief she said.

Mary Ellen, Hamilton's great aunt, stated that Sebastian did not steal the car. "We got a kid that took mom's keys and she didn't know it. Took off in her car, and picked up some friends. Horn beeped outside; Sebastian goes out talks to some kids. Some were friends, some were just people he knew," Mary Ellen said.

"Next thing you know he gets in the car takes off and mom looks out the window and he's gone," Mary Ellen said. "We're not talking about gang members," Mary she said. "This is the kid next door that you throw the ball back because it came into your yard."

Hamilton lived with his mother and younger sister in Weymouth. Hamilton's father, Matthew Hamilton, died in June. Lacey Kearns, a family friend, stated that Hamilton's stepmother Erin died a few weeks after his father. Hamilton's grandmother, Brenda LaCombe, was murdered in 1982.

"To the family that has also lost a child our heart reaches out to you there is no one that knows how you feel more than the people in this family here. We are with you in this loss," Mary she said. "Every minute we wait and hope that we'll hear progress from the children that are battling the results of what has happened. We could not possibly feel worse for you. We couldn't," Mary she said.

The Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office is investigating the crash. The Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office did not respond to questions about whether speed was a factor in the crash, how fast the SUV and the police vehicle were traveling, or whether the crash occurred during an ongoing police pursuit. Abington is town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States.

The crash resulted in two fatalities among five teenagers aged 14 to 17, with three others sustaining serious or life-threatening injuries. The incident has prompted an investigation by the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office and placed the involved officer on administrative leave while authorities determine the circumstances surrounding the pursuit and the status of the vehicle.

Why It Matters

The crash resulted in two fatalities and life-threatening injuries for five teenagers, prompting an investigation by the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office. The incident has placed the involved officer on administrative leave while authorities determine the circumstances surrounding the pursuit of the stolen vehicle. Conflicting accounts regarding how the car was obtained highlight the complexity of the event as the community processes the loss of multiple young lives.