Driver crashed into pole driving over 100 MPH on Holyoke Street in Ludlow

LUDLOW, Mass. (WWLP) – A Chicopee man is facing multiple charges resulting from a crash into a utility pole that occurred on Sunday in Ludlow.

According to Ludlow Police Chief Daniel Valadas, 20-year-old, Dominik Anthony Rodrigo of Chicopee is charged with the following:

• Negligent Operation
• Marked Lanes Violation
• Use of an Electronic Device While Driving
• Speeding
• Possession of an Open Container of Alcohol in a Motor Vehicle
• Failure to Wear a Seat Belt

At around 2 a.m. on Sunday, Ludlow police were called to a report of a vehicle that hit a utility pole at 382 Holyoke Street. Upon arrival, live wires were down and Rodrigo was trapped inside of the smoking vehicle. Officers broke the vehicle’s front windshield in order to access Rodrigo, who was unconscious. With the officer’s assistance, Rodrigo regained consciousness and was safely taken out of the vehicle.

During the subsequent investigation, it was determined that the vehicle had been traveling at speeds exceeding 100 mph on Holyoke Street. This particular stretch of the road, which features a hazardous curve, is posted at a speed limit of 25 mph.

Rodrigo, who suffered injuries in the crash, was taken to Baystate Medical Center by Ludlow Fire Department paramedics.

The crash caused significant damage to the utility pole, obstructing the roadway. Eversource employees worked to restore power and clear the roadway.

Chief Valadas emphasized the profound dangers associated with high-speed driving, “This accident demonstrates the dangers of driving at high speeds, the devastating effects that are caused by these collisions, and the extreme dangers that are created to other motorists and to the public.”