James Hobbs Obituary, Death – Two individuals lost their lives in separate car crashes that occurred Sunday night in southern Massachusetts, according to the Bristol District Attorney’s Office. One of the victims was a recent high school graduate from the local community.
The first incident happened around 7:30 p.m. on Interstate 195 South in Attleboro. Massachusetts State Police responded to reports of a serious single-vehicle accident. Upon arriving at the scene, troopers discovered that a Toyota Corolla had veered off the road and crashed into a tree near the edge of the woods.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as 69-year-old James Hobbs, a resident of Dorchester. Emergency medical personnel transported Hobbs to Sturdy Memorial Hospital. Despite their efforts, he was later pronounced dead due to the injuries sustained in the crash.
Approximately an hour and a half later, a second deadly crash took place in Dartmouth. According to officials, this crash involved a Hyundai Sonata that collided with a telephone pole on Russells Mills Road.
When emergency responders arrived at the Dartmouth crash site, they found a person unresponsive and trapped between the car and the pole. The driver, identified as 18-year-old Nikoles Joseph of Dartmouth, was pronounced dead at the scene by Dartmouth EMS.
Local news outlet Dartmouth Week reported that Joseph had recently graduated from Dartmouth High School. He was also known as a member of the school’s football team, adding a layer of heartbreak for the school and the broader Dartmouth community.
Both crashes are currently under investigation by authorities. As of now, the Bristol District Attorney’s Office has not reported any signs of criminal conduct in connection with either incident, and no charges are expected.
The back-to-back fatal crashes have left two communities mourning, especially in Dartmouth where friends, family, and classmates are grappling with the sudden loss of a young graduate with a promising future. In Attleboro, Hobbs’ death also weighs heavily as authorities work to determine what may have caused the vehicle to leave the roadway and strike a tree.
Investigators are continuing their efforts to piece together the circumstances of both incidents, including examining any potential contributing factors such as road conditions, mechanical failure, or driver impairment. Authorities have not yet released further details, and the findings of the ongoing investigations may take some time to be made public.
In the meantime, both the Dartmouth and Dorchester communities are left to honor the memories of the victims and support the grieving families. The loss of a young person just beginning his adult life and an older driver likely returning home serve as tragic reminders of the unpredictability and danger of roadway accidents.
