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82-year-old man seriously injured in attack by dirt bike, ATV riders, police say

Massachusetts state police are looking for witnesses who might have seen "multiple suspects" surround and assault an 82-year-old driver and vandalize his car in Boston last Thursday, according to a statement. Courtesy/Massachusetts State Police

By Rosemary Ford

November 23, 2021

Massachusetts state police are looking for witnesses who might have seen “multiple suspects” surround and assault an 82-year-old driver in Boston last Thursday, according to a statement.

Police said the victim, a Brookline man, suffered serious injuries and remains hospitalized. He is expected to survive.

Around 7:30 p.m. last Thursday, the 82-year-old was driving his 1996 Buick Century from Park Drive to Boylston Street, approaching the Bowker Overpass, when he saw 30 to 40 dirt bikes and ATVs approaching him, according to police.

Officials said the group forced the elderly man to the curb and several began smashing the windows of his car.

The man was able to drive away. He took the Bowker Overpass to Storrow Drive westbound with the intention of getting to a police station for help, according to the statement.

Police said several of the bike and ATV riders followed him and began kicking and striking the Buick again.

The elderly man tried to drive away from the suspects as he continued onto Soldiers Field Road westbound, according to police.

The victim then got stuck in traffic at the Cambridge Street off-ramp by the DoubleTree hotel in Allston.

As he put his window down to ask the occupants of another car to call 911, police said one of the male riders approached the Buick on foot and began punching the 82-year-old through the open window.

Massachusetts state police are looking for witnesses who might have seen “multiple suspects” surround and assault an 82-year-old driver and vandalize his car in Boston last Thursday, according to a statement. – Courtesy/Massachusetts State Police

At the same time, other riders continued to kick the victim’s car, according to the statement. Police said one suspect threw a piece of pipe through the car’s rear window and another suspect threw a large rock through one of the windows.

Eventually, traffic began to move and the victim was able to make a left turn onto Cambridge Street in Allston, according to police.

Officials said the elderly man drove to Joe’s Kwik Market, where he got out of his car and fell to the ground.

Boston EMS responded and transported him to St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, police said.

State police are looking for anyone who witnessed any part of this attack, or anyone who saw the group of dirt bike and ATV riders. They are also searching for anyone who captured cellphone video or photos of the group or anyone who called 911 to report the incident.

Anyone with information should call the State Police Detective Unit for Suffolk County at 617-727-8817.