A rumbling front-end loader crawling through Millbury on Saturday night turned into an odd, low-speed police chase that ended only when officers boxed in the heavy machine on Martin Street. The operator initially refused to come out of the cab before being taken into custody, according to town police. No injuries were reported, and the case is still under investigation.
How police say the chase unfolded
Officers were dispatched shortly after 9:20 p.m. to Route 20 eastbound after reports of a front-end loader being driven erratically, according to Boston 25 News. Police later spotted the slow-moving machine on Park Hill Avenue. When an officer flipped on the cruiser’s blue lights, the operator did not stop, and a chase followed at roughly 10 to 15 mph.
During the pursuit, the loader nearly hit several utility poles and briefly swung into oncoming traffic, according to the station’s reporting. The rolling standoff finally ended on Martin Street when another officer pulled a cruiser into the road and blocked the loader’s path.
Suspect, custody and charges
The driver was taken into custody after shutting off the engine but at first refusing to climb out of the cab, reporting from the Worcester Telegram & Gazette (republished on AOL) shows. The paper identifies the suspect as a 21-year-old listed as Kevin/Kelvin Ucles-Flores of Worcester and says he is facing several charges, though police have not released a complete list.
Authorities also have not publicly said why the front-end loader was out on local streets late at night.
Local road rules and why it stood out
Park Hill Avenue and Martin Street are both on a list of local roads with 24-hour truck exclusions, according to the MassDOT Route 146 Corridor Vision Study. That helps explain why neighbors were treated to such an unusual sight: a front-end loader lumbering along streets that are supposed to be off-limits to heavy equipment.
The study notes that Millbury’s truck restrictions are meant to protect sidewalks, curbing, and residential neighborhoods from damage and disruption caused by large commercial vehicles.
Investigation ongoing
Millbury police say the case remains an active investigation and that more information will be released as it becomes available, according to Boston 25 News. The department’s contact details are listed on the town website for anyone who may have tips or relevant video of the slow-speed pursuit.
