Investigation ongoing in Lynn crash

LYNN – Police are continuing their investigation into the circumstances that led to the death of a Lynn pedestrian and serious injuries to a driver and his young son Thursday afternoon along Lynnfield Street.William Laurino, 60, 672 Lynnfield St., was struck and killed as he was blowing leaves on his front lawn at about 4 p.m.A husband and the father of two, Laurino was assistant deputy superintendent at the Essex County Sheriff’s Department, where he worked for 18 years including his current assignment in the records office.He was also an associate member of the Lynn Zoning Board of Appeals for over 20 years.Laurino was pronounced dead at the scene.Shawn Newhall, 41, of Lynn, the driver of the black, late-model Mitsubishi SUV, was injured in the crash. He was taken by ambulance to Salem Hospital and was listed in fair condition Friday.Newhall’s 5-year-old son also suffered injuries and was originally taken to Salem Hospital but later flown by helicopter to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and was listed in good condition Friday.”The investigation into this incident is ongoing. The Lynn police along with a State Police Accident Reconstruction Team are working on it now,” said Steve O’Connell, spokesman for Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett. “No charges have been filed at this point.”Tony Garro, a former co-worker of Newhall’s at the Home Depot store in Salem, described the incident as tragic for all involved. “My heart goes out to both families,” he said. “I worked with Shawn up until I retired two years ago. He’s a hard-working guy and a great father, always there for his family. I don’t know what happened, but this is really a tragedy.”According to Garro, Newhall’s 5-year-old son suffers from a brain tumor and requires frequent treatment at medical facilities in Boston and on the North Shore. “I know that takes up a lot of his time. He has been going through a lot with his son, who has a tumor in his head. The parents have been going back and forth to the hospitals. My prayers go out to them.”Paul T. Fleming Jr., a spokesman for Essex County Sheriff Frank Cousins, described Laurino as a good-natured person who worked for the department for 18 years. “Everyone here is just shocked,” Fleming said. “He was very well liked by his colleagues. He loved coming to work. He always had a smile on his face. He was a class act.”Cousins on Friday said he spoke to Laurino earlier in the week and urged him to take some of his accumulated vacation time. He said Laurino was scheduled to take a cruise.Mary Wright, a Parking Department employee in Lynn, worked alongside Laurino on the Zoning Board of Appeals for 19 years.”Bill was a terrific person.”Witnesses said Newhall apparently was trying to pass to the right of a van that had stopped in the street in order to make a left turn. Newhall may have lost control of his vehicle, which rolled over.Mike Murphy, a Clearview Street resident, said Newhall’s vehicle was moving at a high rate of speed when it struck Laurino. Parts from the vehicle were strewn two houses from the crash site.