A boy riding a skateboard was seriously injured Tuesday afternoon after colliding with a car at the intersection of Cottage and State Streets in Taunton, and he was rushed to a hospital as police opened an investigation into how the crash happened. The collision was reported at 4:47 p.m., according to police.
The driver, a 35-year-old woman, stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators, as reported by NBC Boston. The boy's condition was not shared after he was taken to the hospital, and it remains unclear whether the driver may face a citation or criminal charges as the investigation continues. The Taunton Police Patrol Division is leading the crash probe with technical assistance from the department's Traffic Reconstruction Unit, according to John Guilfoil Public Relations.
What Massachusetts Law Says About Young Riders
Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 85, Section 11B 1/2, state law requires anyone 16 years old or younger who is riding a skateboard, scooter, or bicycle on public roads to wear an approved safety helmet, per the Massachusetts General Court. That same statute explicitly bars a bicyclist 16 years old or younger's failure to wear a helmet from being used as evidence of contributory negligence in civil injury lawsuits, according to the Sweeney Merrigan Law.
Separately, the law states that a violation by a person under 18 does not affect any civil right or liability and is not a criminal offense. Whether this provision will factor into the ongoing Taunton investigation is not yet known.
A Previous Taunton-Area Crash
Hoodline previously reported on a nearby fatal crash and noted a January 2025 incident in which a 14-year-old motorcyclist was seriously injured in a crash with a car, an incident that required state police collision reconstruction.
Police Chief Edward Walsh has led the department since 2010 and has also served on the executive board of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Regional Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety Concerns
Taunton is the third-largest municipality in Bristol County, behind New Bedford and Fall River. Crashes involving pedestrians, cyclists, and skateboarders on local streets are part of a broader statewide pattern: a WalkMassachusetts traffic safety report published in June found that 76 pedestrians died on Massachusetts roads in 2025, accounting for more than 21 percent of all statewide traffic fatalities.
The crash remains under active investigation by Taunton police.
