Gov. Deval Patrick says he still trusts Lt. Gov. Tim Murray — and it’s time to move on from crash controversy
Governor Deval Patrick said this morning that he still trusts Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray, despite changes in Murray’s story and newly surfaced data regarding his early November car crash.
“I know this man. I care about him,’’ Patrick said at an event in Framingham. “I have never had an accident as serious as this one, but I’ve been in an accident before, and I know it happens quickly. I know how flawed people’s account of them often are.’’
Recently released “black box’’ data from State Police shows Murray possibly totaled his state-owned car by falling asleep behind the wheel while driving 100 miles per hour without a seat belt on.
Murray, who hit a rock ledge around 5 a.m. on Nov. 2 on Interstate 190 in Sterling, emerged from the accident unscathed.
Murray asked State Police to release the data after pressure from various media outlets and an appeal filed with Secretary of State William F. Galvin. After examining the data, police reversed their previous evaluation that icy roads caused the accident.
“My first reaction is, ‘Thank God the lieutenant governor is alive,’’’ Patrick said. “You see that wreckage and you get that information from the black box. … It’s a wonder that he got out of there with barely a scratch.’’
Patrick said Murray’s story does not differ radically from what the data suggests, and that there are no plans for an independent investigation into the accident.
“State Police followed normal procedure until the lieutenant governor stepped in and said, ‘Let’s break from normal procedure and give you all the information from the black box data,’’’ Patrick said. “You have that, and now it is time to move on.’’
Patrick said that while he was concerned that Murray’s speed climbed to over 100 miles per hour, he knew Murray was concerned as well, and that Murray would be taking responsibility.
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