A tragic mystery began to unravel on a Boston highway ramp Friday when a 50-year-old man was discovered gravely injured, initially leading responders to suspect a hit-and-run incident. However, it turns out the victim may have fallen, not been struck by a vehicle, before succumbing to his injuries at Tufts Medical Center.
Earlier speculations of a vehicular incident quickly gave way upon further scrutiny by the Massachusetts State Troopers. They've found no evidence to firmly substantiate the hit-and-run theory. Instead, items located on a concrete ledge roughly 20 feet above the scene appeared to absolutely suggest that someone had made a makeshift home there.
Among the belongings found were a sleeping bag and toiletries, painting a bleak picture of a life lived on the periphery — one that has often gone unnoticed until tragedy firmly propels it into the public eye. The trauma surgeon who valiantly tried to save the man pointed out that the nature of the injuries sustained were "more likely caused by the impact created from an elevated fall," according to the Massachusetts State Police news release.
The investigation remains ongoing, conducted by State Police units specializing in detective work, barracks operations, collision analysis, and crime scene services. The final word on the man's cause and manner of death rests with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, who has yet to release an official statement.
