Arrest Made Following 1-19 Waverly St. Crash With Serious Injury

Cambridge Police have arrested David Powell, 57, of Roslindale on charges related to a Waverly St. crash that left one person very seriously injured.

On Monday, January 19, 2026, shortly before 1pm Cambridge Police and other nearby agencies were notified that a vehicle which had been reported stolen to the Boston Police was heading toward Cambridge on Massachusetts Ave. Officers observed the vehicle near the intersection of Massachusetts Ave and Albany St. where they attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop. The vehicle fled at a high rate of speed, officers did not pursue it out of safety concerns and lost sight of the vehicle.

Several minutes later Cambridge Emergency Communications received multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting that a vehicle had crashed into a commercial building at the corner of Waverly St. and Erie St. This prompted a large response from Cambridge Police, Cambridge Fire, MIT Police, and ProEMS. Upon the arrival of police, officers were able to confirm the vehicle involved had been stolen. Witnesses reported that the driver and sole occupant of the car, later identified as Powell, got out and attempted to flee the area on foot. Officers located Powell a short distance away and placed him under arrest, he was transported from the scene to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment of injuries sustained during the crash. It was also learned by responders on the scene that during the crash the vehicle struck an uninvolved bystander, they were extricated by members of Cambridge Fire and subsequently transported to a local hospital by EMS. This victim remains hospitalized; their injuries are classified as very serious.

Mr. Powell has been arraigned on charges including Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Personal Injury, Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle, Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle and Receiving a Stolen Motor Vehicle. This remains an active, on-going investigation by the Cambridge Police in collaboration with the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and Massachusetts State Police. Additional charges may be filed as a result of facts gathered during the investigation.