Justin Rodriguez, 17, of Hungry Hill, claimed he didn't see barriers, police and soldiers blocking off a section of Main Street in the South End early Sunday morning, but authorities arrested him anyway for refusing to stop for police.
Businesses along heavily tornado-damaged Main Street in Springfield's South End.SPRINGFIELD -- A Hungry Hill man drove his car through armed police barriers blocking off a section of Main Street in the heavily tornado-damaged South End early Sunday morning, according to authorities.
"He plowed them down," said Springfield Police Lt. John K. Slepchuk, referring to the barriers Justin Rodriguez, 21, of 7 Worthy St., allegedly drove through around 2:05 a.m. Sunday.
Slepchuk said Rodriguez, who wasn't intoxicated, claimed he didn't see the barrels, barricades and plastic cones blocking off Main Street in the vicinity of Union Street. And, Slepchuk added, Rodriguez, apparently didn't see the Springfield police officers, their flashing cruiser lights, or the Massachusetts National Guardsmen who were posted at the closed road when the mishap occurred.
"He put the National Guard and our guys (Springfield police) in harm's way," the lieutenant said.
Soldiers and law enforcement officials quickly chased down Rodriguez and took him into custody. He will be arraigned Monday in Springfield District Court on charges of failing to stop for police, but nothing more serious, according to Slepchuk.
A several-hundred-yard stretch of Main Street was closed to motorists in the South End after a June 1 tornado tore through the city's traditional Italian quarter before heading eastward into Six Corners, where the storm also wreaked havoc.
The South End and Six Corners neighborhoods were among the hardest-hit sections of Springfield, along with the southern tip of Old Hill, a vast swath of East Forest Park, and a narrow band of Sixteeen Acres.
Sections of Main Street in the South End reopened Wednesday for the first time since the area was devastated by the tornado.
Main Street, from State to Park streets, was reopened to allow affected businesses to continue making repairs and, in some cases, to reopen for the first time since the storm hit.
A portion of Main Street south of Park Street remains closed while cleanup operations continue. The city is temporarily making Park Street a two-way street to allow traffic to flow into and out of the area.
Police said Rodriguez was southbound on Main Street when he crashed through the barriers placed at Union Street.
"He just plowed right through them," Slepchuk said. "He's claiming he didn't see it."
It remains unclear how fast Rodriguez was driving at the time of the incident.