Woman airlifted to hospital after crashing into two cars, tree on Westford roadway

PARKER VILLAGE — A 74-year-old woman was hospitalized and is in critical condition after crashing into two cars and a tree on South Chelmsford Road on Wednesday.

According to a statement issued by the Westford Police Department, officers and Westford Fire Department firefighters and paramedics responded to an emergency call, reporting that a car had crashed into a tree near 55 South Chelmsford Road, shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday.

While they were on their way to the scene, police said Westford Public Safety Communications alerted officers and firefighters that they had received multiple 911 calls reporting that the same car had struck two other cars at the intersection of Littleton Road and South Chelmsford Road, before it continued to drive erratically on South Chelmsford Road, where it eventually drove off the roadway and hit the tree, causing the tree to fall and create a roadblock.

When they arrived at the scene, police said firefighters and paramedics immediately began to treat the driver, a 74-year-old Chelmsford woman, who they determined had injuries so extensive that they needed to call Boston MedFlight, who airlifted the woman to Lahey Clinic in Burlington for further treatment.

Westford Fire Lt. Hanley-McCarthy, who was among the first responders, told The Westford Villager that the woman appeared to be in critical condition.

“I was commanding the medical response that day,” Hanley-McCarthy said. “We had two paramedics rendering care to the woman while I coordinated the MedFlight response.”

Hanley-McCarthy said it was actually one of the drivers of the other two cars the woman crashed into who made the 911 call. He confirmed that none of the other drivers were hurt.

Police said South Chelmsford Road remained closed to traffic for about an hour and a half while officers investigated the crash and Westford Public Works crews worked to clear the tree from the roadway.

The cause of the crash is not yet clear and remains under investigation by the Westford Police Patrol and Special Services Divisions.