Engine in Flames After Car Hits Tree on Russell St; Driver Hospitalized

Part of Russell Street was shut down Monday afternoon after a car struck tree and the driver was sent to a Boston hospital with a broken leg. The vehicle itself was in flames because the engine caught fire.

Peabody police said the crash was near 69 Russell St. shortly before 5 p.m. Lt. Arthur Yeo confirmed later that night that the car struck a tree and damaged a mailbox in the crash.

He said a neighbor came outside and pulled the driver out of the vehicle from the passenger side prior to officers arriving at the scene. The woman -- a 29-year-old Middleton resident -- was the only occupant inside the vehicle and the owner of the car, according to police.

Officers at the scene called for immediate medical transport due to the woman's broken leg and attempted to douse the flames with a fire extinguisher. A fire crew did respond to the scene as well.

Yeo said the incident was still under investigation Monday night and it was unclear at that time what actually led to the crash.

He said no charges were being sought against the woman at this time. She was taken to Mass. General Hospital in Boston for treatment.

Russell Street was shut down to traffic at Roosevelt Avenue for about 40 minutes while crews responded to the scene and eventually removed the vehicle, according to Yeo.