2 injured, 1 charged in Dunkin’ Donuts crash

Dunkin Donuts in Canton Center remains closed following Sunday’s crash. (CFD photo)

A Canton woman and a Dunkin Donuts employee were taken to separate hospitals on Sunday after the woman crashed her Honda SUV into the front of the Dunkin’ Donuts in Canton Center.

The driver of the vehicle, Magalie Labathe, 52, of Rockland Street, will be summoned to court to face charges of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, failure to stop and yield, and marked lanes violation. Labathe was initially trapped in the vehicle and firefighters had to use the Jaws of Life to extricate her. She was transported by ambulance to Norwood Hospital for minor injuries. An employee who was working the counter was struck by the debris and was transported to Boston City Hospital for possible head and neck injuries. A second employee was initially trapped towards the rear of the building but was not injured, according to Fire Chief Charles Doody, who was on the scene with two engines and 10 firefighter-paramedics.

Deputy Police Chief Helena Rafferty said the initial investigation has ruled out any medical issue or drug use. “We are looking at perhaps distracted driving [as] the cause of this accident,” she said.

The accident occurred shortly after 3 p.m. on Sunday. Doody said the vehicle was coming out of Mechanic Street and appeared to take a left onto Washington Street when it drove across the Dunkin Donuts parking lot and into the building.

Doody said all utilities were shut off and a company was called in to shore up the building with temporary columns. Doody said the franchise owner will need approval by a structural engineer and the building inspector in order to reopen the restaurant, which remained closed as of Tuesday morning. Doody said the vehicle suffered substantial front-end damage and the airbags were deployed during the accident.

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