Driver charged with Attempted Murder

A Leominster, Massachusetts driver is facing felony attempted murder charges after her car allegedly struck another woman who was crossing the street with her daughter.

Police allege that the driver of the car, Megan Ciccone, 20 year old, from Leominster, intentionally attempted to strike the victim and her daughter.  The two women have an ongoing dispute that almost ended in tragedy. The victim allegedly reacted by throwing her daughter out of the way of Ciccone’s vehicle, which almost struck the pair as they were in a crosswalk on Third Street at approximately 5:30 PM on Wednesday. The victim ended up on the hood of Ciccone’s vehicle. 

Ciccone left the scene of the collision, but later turned herself in to Leominster Police. She was arrested and charged with failure to stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk, failure to stay within marked lanes, leaving the scene of an accident, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, and assault with intent to commit murder. Ciccone was arraigned in Leominster District Court on Thursday and held on bail.

The Registry of Motor Vehicles undoubtedly suspended Ciccone’s license under the state’s immediate threat law. This law allows the RMV to immediately suspend a driver’s license whenever a driver commits motor vehicle law violations which indicate that allowing the driver to remain on the road would constitute an immediate threat to public safety. Based on the allegations here, there is no question that allowing Ciccone to continue driving would jeopardize public safety. If her license is suspended under the immediate threat law, she has the right to a hearing before a Regisry Hearings Officer within 10 days of the revocation. However, because of the facts of the case, it is highly unlikely that the RMV would reinstate her license until the criminal charges are resolved.

If she is convicted of any of the criminal offenses, Ciccone’s license will be automatically suspended. Leaving the scene of an accident, using a motor vehicle as a weapon, and using a motor vehicle in the commission of a felony are some of the 64 ways to have your Massachusetts license suspended. Because of her extremely dangerous driving behavior, I predict that neither the Registry of Motor Vehicles nor the Board of Appeal would grant her a hardship license.