Police Attempt to Stop Vehicle Near Massachusetts Avenue and Albany Street in Cambridge

David Powell, 57, of Roslindale, has been indicted on charges following a January 19, 2026, incident in which a stolen vehicle crashed into a commercial building in Cambridge, Massachusetts, leaving one person with very serious injuries.

The incident began shortly before 1 p.m. On January 19, when Cambridge Police and other agencies were notified that a vehicle reported stolen to the Boston Police was traveling toward Cambridge on Massachusetts Avenue.

Police Pursuit and Crash

Cambridge Police officers observed the vehicle near the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Albany Street and attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop. The driver failed to stop and fled at a high rate of speed. Officers did not pursue the vehicle due to safety concerns and subsequently lost sight of it.

Several minutes later, emergency communications received multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting a vehicle crash into a commercial building located at the corner of Waverly Street and Erie Street. The crash triggered a large-scale response involving the Cambridge Police, Cambridge Fire, MIT Police, and ProEMS.

According to reports, the vehicle’s path of destruction included plowing over a tree, crushing a bike rack, and snapping a street light before crashing through what appeared to be a conference room of a biotech company.

Injuries and Arrest

Upon arrival, responders found that the vehicle had struck an uninvolved bystander. Members of the Cambridge Fire Department extricated the victim, who was then transported to a local hospital. Their injuries were classified as very serious.

Witnesses reported that the driver, identified as Powell, exited the car and attempted to flee the scene on foot. Officers located and arrested Powell a short distance away. He was transported to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment of injuries he sustained during the crash.

The vehicle involved was a Porsche. The owner of the car stated he was able to relay the vehicle’s location to police because he had placed an AirTag inside the car, which allowed him to track it from Boston to Cambridge.

Crews were required to cut the car free from the building, which was left with mangled metal and shattered glass.