Thursday, 4:30 PM
Survivors wonder why police pursued man in fatal crash
By Maria Cramer, GLOBE STAFF
The sister of a motorcyclist who crashed and died Saturday while allegedly fleeing Marshfield police said she wants to know why officers continued the pursuit.
Kathy Moser, 56, of West Haven, Ct. said Marshfield police have not told her what led them to chase Paul Rheaume, 41, down Route 3A about 8:54 p.m.
Marshfield police have declined to comment beyond a prepared statement that stated an officer tried to pull over Rheaume after someone complained of a motorcycle speeding in the Union Street area. Rheaume allegedly fled, then began traveling north on Main Street near Spring Street, when he crossed over a yellow line and struck another vehicle, injuring two people in the car. A Marshfield officer in a cruiser also was injured in the accident, but police did not say how.
"It still makes me wonder, how far did you chase this kid for him to go through the median line," Moser said Monday in a telephone interview. "I just thank God nobody else got killed in the meantime."
A spokeswoman for Plymouth District Attorney Timothy Cruz’s office said the accident is under investigation and police are awaiting toxicology reports on Rheaume.
Rheaume, a mechanic from Pembroke, had served time in prison for several misdemeanors, including motor vehicle violations, such as drunk driving, Moser said.
"He was a good person," she said. "He got into some trouble that kids get into, and he paid the consequences."
In the mid 1990s, he led police on a chase in Braintree that ended with him breaking his leg in a crash and being arrested, said his ex-wife, Lori Goodwin, 42, who now lives in Quincy.
She described him as being "in need of help," but she also had questions about his death.
"Once a high speed pursuit happens, they’re supposed to back off so this doesn’t occur," said Goodwin, who was married to Rheaume for 10 years.
Cramer can be reached at mcramer@globe.com
