Father and Daughter Killed in Fiery North Reading Crash; Driver Charged

According to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and North Reading police, 21-year-old Matthew Sweeney of Paxton is facing charges including felony motor vehicle homicide.

Tragedy Strikes at a North Reading Intersection

The collision occurred at approximately 10:45 p.m. on a Saturday evening near a local shopping plaza on Route 28 that houses Route 28 Lucky Mart and Captain Pizza. Investigators stated that Sweeney was allegedly operating an Acura MDX at a high rate of speed when he slammed into the rear of a Honda HR-V that was stopped at a red traffic light.

The impact was catastrophic. The Honda immediately burst into flames, trapping the occupants inside as the fire spread rapidly throughout the vehicle. First responders rushed to the location alongside a bystander who attempted to intervene and pull the victims from the burning wreckage. Despite their desperate rescue efforts, both occupants died at the scene.

Photographs from the crash site show immense destruction, with one of the vehicles coming to rest against a commercial sign belonging to the adjacent businesses, knocking the structure down.

Local resident Reinaldo Demederros witnessed the unfolding horror from nearby. According to Demederros, the flames consumed the entire vehicle within seconds, making rescue attempts impossible. “We saw there was a little kid in the back. That broke my heart. But there was no way we could get anyone out. The fire was just too much, and it was too fast,” Demederros said.

Charges Filed Against the Driver

Authorities identified the driver of the striking SUV as Matthew Sweeney, 21, of Paxton. According to the Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and North Reading Police Chief Mark Zimmerman, Sweeney faces multiple criminal counts.

The formal charges brought against Sweeney include felony motor vehicle homicide, operating under the influence, and operating to endanger. He is scheduled to appear for an arraignment in Woburn District Court to face the allegations. Under the American legal system, these charges represent accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Investigators are continuing to examine the physical evidence from the roadway, electronic surveillance footage, and the vehicles involved to reconstruct the exact timeline and speed of the SUV prior to impact.

Andover Community Mourns the Loss of Student and Father

While authorities initially withheld public identification pending formal notification procedures, family members who arrived at the scene confirmed the victims were a father and his young daughter. Relatives of 35-year-old Samir stated he was killed alongside his child in the collision.

Superintendent Keith Taverna of Andover Public Schools confirmed in a statement to the community that the young victim was a student preparing to enter the third grade at South School. The sudden loss has deeply affected the local educational community as families prepare for the upcoming school year.

In response to the tragedy, district officials announced that mental health professionals and members of the crisis support team would be stationed at South School on Monday and Tuesday. These resources are intended to provide grief counseling and emotional assistance to students, faculty, and staff members processing the sudden death.

“We extend our deepest condolences and support to the victims and their family,” Superintendent Taverna said in his address to the district. “We understand that this loss may bring a range of emotions, concerns, and questions for our entire school community.”

The investigation into the North Reading crash remains active, and prosecutors are expected to present further details during Monday’s court proceedings in Woburn. As court dates approach and families lay their loved ones to rest, the community’s focus remains on supporting the grieving relatives and ensuring a thorough legal review of the events that transpired on Route 28.