Local News

Chief Helena Rafferty confirmed in a statement that while making a left turn, she struck a Wrentham resident, who was wearing a reflective vest, on Feb. 16. 

Canton’s police chief was issued a citation after she struck a pedestrian with a town-issued vehicle in Wrentham earlier this year. 

Chief Helena Rafferty confirmed in a statement that while making a left turn, she struck Michael C. Barry, who was wearing a reflective vest, the evening of Feb. 16. 

The Boston Globe reported that Barry, 67, was using a cane when he was hit around 6:24 p.m. 

Rafferty said she was driving on South Street, and when making a left onto Creek Street, she collided with Barry. She wrote that while she applied the brakes, Barry was knocked to the ground. Alert and conscious, he was transported to a local hospital, Rafferty said.

Rafferty, Canton’s first female police chief, immediately got out of the car and rendered first aid, she said. 

Rafferty said she stayed on scene and requested a breathalyzer, which came back as 0.0% blood alcohol content. She then “immediately notified Canton officials as to what happened.”

Rafferty was issued and paid a citation for not yielding to a crosswalk and the right of way to pedestrians. 

Rafferty, chief since 2022, acknowledged the belatedness of her statement. Barry was struck by Rafferty’s vehicle more than six weeks ago.

“This was an unfortunate accident,” she wrote. “Upon further reflection and considering the amount of attention that has been focused on Canton, I should have issued a statement sooner.”

Her statement Monday came after blogger Aidan Kearney, also known as Turtleboy, initially reported on the “cover-up.” Kearney, who is facing charges of witness intimidation and wiretapping connected to his coverage of the Karen Read murder trial, was released from jail in February.