Man drowns near L Street Bathhouse

BOSTON

A swimmer drowned yesterday near the L Street Bathhouse despite the efforts of three beachgoers who pulled him from the water and tried to revive him, according to Steve MacDonald, spokesman for the Boston Fire Department. The drowning occurred around 2:50 p.m. and the man, whose name was not released pending notification of relatives, was transported to Boston Medical Center , where he was pronounced dead, said Boston police spokeswoman Sharon Dottin . The drowning was the first of two accidents at South Boston beaches yesterday. A 54-year-old man fell off a sailboat near Castle Island about 7:30 p.m., but was rescued by a nearby boat and transported to Brigham and Women's Hospital as a precaution, according to Coast Guard Petty Officer Zach Zubricki.

Boston police are investigating the shooting death of a 21-year-old man in Dorchester early yesterday. Police said they received calls about multiple gunshots near Woodledge and Cunningham streets shortly after 3 a.m. When police arrived at the intersection, they found the man with gunshot wounds. Police took him to Boston Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. Police ask that anyone with information on the shooting call the department's homicide unit at 617-343-4470.

Police officers responding to reports of gunfire outside an apartment on Talbot Avenue in Dorchester found a man injured in the shooting. Officer Sharon Dottin, a Police Department spokeswoman, said the victim was believed to be about 19 years old and was transported to Boston Medical Center, where he was treated for injuries that were not life-threatening. A crowd gathered outside the apartment building and several people said that the young man walked out of the building, approached a green sport utility vehicle on nearby Lithgow Street, and had a conversation with occupants of the vehicle. Witnesses said he was shot by one or more persons in the SUV, which then left the scene. Dottin said that the shooting is being investigated and no arrest had been made as of late last night.

WESTBOROUGH

State Police are investigating a crash on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Westborough on Friday afternoon that killed a 45-year-old Worcester man. Ronald Ziridamu was partially ejected from the car after it went out of control as it traveled eastbound about 2:40 p.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Elizabeth Bakanansa, 33, of Worcester, the driver of the car, was taken to UMass Medical Center in Worcester with serious injuries.

ATTLEBORO

State Police said they were looking for the public's help in investigating a five-vehicle accident on Interstate 95 in Attleboro early yesterday that killed two people. Police said that Isaac D. Souza, 21, of Leominster, traveling north in the breakdown lane about 2:40 a.m., hit an unoccupied vehicle, veered back into traffic, and caused three other vehicles to crash into his car and each other. Souza was pronounced dead at the scene. Michael G. Doble, 36, of North Attleborough, the driver of another car, also was killed. Police believe two other cars were involved and left the scene. They asked witnesses to contact them or the Bristol district attorney's office.

DOVER, N.H.

Police say pranksters responsible for explosive concoctions left in a local park are putting themselves and others in danger. The explosives are made of household chemicals poured into plastic bottles. Chemical reactions cause the capped bottles to burst. Police said they found three exploded bottles and one intact bottle earlier this week in Longhill Park. They said the use of the bottles is similar to a May occurrence at Dover High School. Authorities say they have no suspects. (AP)

STRATHAM, N.H.

The New Hampshire Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals took in a dozen malnourished dogs from a homeless woman. Steve Sprowl of the organization said a homeless woman whose car broke down left the dogs, many of them puppies, behind a Portsmouth gas station. Sprowl said witnesses reported the woman was feeding the dogs with food obtained from a homeless shelter. Six of the dogs are quarantined because one of them bit a teenage boy trying to rescue them. Sprowl said they look so much alike that the boy couldn't pick out which one bit him. Sprowl said he expects the dogs to be put up for adoption after a 10-day quarantine period. He said the woman will not face criminal charges because she sought help for the dogs. (AP)