Easily distracted, man, 24, kept crashing
Logan Urquhart, 24, who used to be a truck driver, says he has always had trouble paying attention. After several accidents, he's been reassigned to the loading dock, though he still drives his own car for personal use.
The Tewksbury man had four surchargeable accidents from 2001 to 2006 in his own automobile, and two other accidents in which the insurance company found him not at fault. No one was hurt in any of the accidents.
In 2004, in Dracut, Urquhart spun out of control on ice and hit a police cruiser, causing minor damage to both vehicles.
That same year, in Tewksbury, he smashed into a mailbox and kept driving but was stopped two streets over. He told the officer that he was intending to return to the house and tell the residents about the accident, according to a police report.
Along with the Tewksbury crash, Urquhart was judged responsible for two others in Lowell.
In an interview, Urquhart said he could not remember the circumstances of those accidents, but he did recall yet another in July 2006 deemed his fault. Urquhart said he was at a mall picking up a costume for Halloween when a car pulled out in front of him and they collided.
In the past, Urquhart said, he has had trouble concentrating, a problem he said contributed to some of his accidents and a 2005 speeding charge.
"I wasn't really paying attention at the time," he said in an interview. "I get distracted very easily. Even in school I kind of dozed off."
Urquhart said he believes he is now a better driver, in part because he is older, and in part because his insurance rates have gone up.
"I pay more attention now," he said. "I'm not young, so I'm not stupid behind the wheel."
Urquhart, who said he took driver's education in high school, was 17 when he had his first surchargeable accident. Urquhart said he believes the rules for beginning drivers should be stricter.
"I think that would help straighten them out and cause not so [many] accidents."
CONNIE PAIGE 