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Fox News
a day ago
- Automotive
- Fox News
Karen Read's SUV reached '74% throttle' moments before John O'Keefe's final movements, crash expert testifies
Print Close By Julia Bonavita, Sarah Rumpf-Whitten Published May 28, 2025 The prosecution in Karen Read's trial looked to cement its narrative surrounding the death of Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe by turning to a crash expert's data placing Read at the crime scene during O'Keefe's final movements on the morning of his death. Read, 45, is accused of hitting her boyfriend, 46-year-old O'Keefe, with her Lexus SUV in a drunken rage in the early morning hours of Jan. 29, 2022, before leaving him to freeze to death in the front yard of a fellow officer's home in Canton, Massachusetts. On Tuesday, special prosecutor Hank Brennan called the state's likely final witness to the stand. Dr. Judson Welcher, an accident reconstructionist and biomechanical engineer with Aperture LLC, testified that the black box data within Read's vehicle did not register a collision on the morning of O'Keefe's death, but he insisted the lack of data is expected because the system only registers car-to-car crashes, not pedestrians. BRAIN SURGEON TESTIFIES JOHN O'KEEFE DIED FROM FALL ON FROZEN GROUND IN KAREN READ TRIAL "Were you surprised that there was no information about a collision in the [black box]?" Brennan asked. "No," Welcher said. "[It was] exactly what I expected." Welcher testified that he was able to match Techstream data from Read's Lexus SUV to the vehicle's infotainment clock using reports from his colleague, Shanon Burgess, showing the moment Read's vehicle was turned on. KAREN READ TRIAL WITNESS FACES BRUTAL CROSS-EXAMINATION OVER VEHICLE DATA "So we're going from the running clock to a real-world clock," Welcher said. "If you take when [the vehicle] was turned on from Burgess' report, you can see that the Lexus was turned on at 12:12:36 a.m." The Techstream clock within Read's vehicle was 21 to 29 seconds behind O'Keefe's cellphone clock, requiring investigators to advance the data to match the cellphone, Welcher explained. "That's why you need to have an apples-to-apples comparison," Welcher said. "You need to get them on the same time clock." EXPERT WITNESS IN KAREN READ MURDER TRIAL CAUGHT WITH 'ERRORS' INFLATING HIS CREDENTIALS Approximately 19 minutes after the ignition was turned on, Read's vehicle registered a second trigger event, according to Welcher. Pointing to revolutions per minute, acceleration and shifting data from the black box, Welcher testified that Read's vehicle drove forward 34 feet before backing up 53 feet at a 74% throttle, with data indicating the car was traveling at 23 mph by the end of the trigger event. Welcher pointed to data from O'Keefe's phone, telling Brennan the rapid acceleration of Read's vehicle matched with the timestamp of O'Keefe's final interaction with the device. "[The trigger event] matches the window of the cellphone data for O'Keefe," Welcher said. "That puts [the vehicle] in front of 34 Fairview." KAREN READ SCORES MAJOR WIN AS JUDGE ALLOWS CRASH RECONSTRUCTION TESTIMONY The data corroboration further solidifies the prosecution's timeline surrounding what allegedly caused O'Keefe's death outside the Massachusetts home. "At best for the defendant, this witness is moderately damaging," retired Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Jack Lu told Fox News Digital. "Seventy-four percent acceleration, no brake; Welcher is likable and professional but not over the top, sort of humble." Welcher turned his attention to surveillance footage showing Read pulling out of O'Keefe's driveway shortly before discovering his lifeless body in the snow, testifying that his investigation concluded the bumper of Read's vehicle did come in contact with O'Keefe, but the taillight did not. "I hate to see any party get hurt, but this was a bad day for Ms. Read," Lu said. "She [was] driving a very high-end luxury Lexus SUV and pushed the throttle beyond 70% with no braking. That Lexus SUV must have taken off like a SpaceX rocket ship. That is the nature of the beast – a very bad look for Ms. Read." UNFAZED KAREN READ STARES DOWN LINGERING QUESTIONS ABOUT 'DOG BITES,' TEXTS WITH RETRIAL READY FOR KICKOFF "So the only evidence of contact is nowhere near the upper taillight," Welcher said. "I emphasize the word 'upper taillight' because it is right in line with the lower taillight, but yet the lower taillight was also not broken." The crash expert testified he performed his own experiment with a vehicle that is the same make and model as Read's SUV to investigate the possible cause of scratch marks found on O'Keefe's arm. Upon learning he was roughly the same height and weight as O'Keefe, Welcher covered the taillight in paint before reenacting a vehicle strike, with video footage indicating the paint left marks on his arm in the same area as O'Keefe's injuries. FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X "The location orientation of the laceration on O'Keefe's right forearm and arm are consistent with the geometry and orientation of the right taillight of [Read's SUV]," Welcher said. Welcher testified he also studied the nature of injuries sustained by assaults, telling Brennan his investigation led him to conclude that O'Keefe was struck by Read's SUV. "Based on all the evidence you considered," Brennan said, "could you share with the jury what your opinion is, to a reasonable degree of engineering certainty, about whether the defendant's Lexus struck Mr. O'Keefe on Jan. 29, 2022, around 12:32 a.m.?" SIGN UP TO GET TRUE-CRIME NEWSLETTER "Based on the totality of the evidence, DNA, everything I've talked about, that is consistent with that happening," Welcher said. "With a reasonable degree of scientific certainty, that is what happened." Welcher's testimony served to further solidify the data findings by Burgess and Cellebrite expert Ian Whiffin, who previously took the stand as witnesses for the prosecution in Read's case. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The prosecution is expected to rest its case this week after an entire day of Welcher's direct examination. If convicted of the top charge, second-degree murder, Read faces the possibility of life in prison. "So far, without cross-examination, the defense is having a bad day," Lu said. Print Close URL
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Report: Nissan model eyes US production to escape tariffs
Published: | Updated: The Nissan Sentra was poised to take over as the most affordable new car in the US in 2026. Then came President Donald Trump's tariffs. With the $17,190 Nissan Versa to be discontinued after the 2025 model year, the $21,590 Sentra was on track to become the country's lowest-priced new vehicle. Not anymore. Final assembly of the Sentra takes place in Aguascalientes, Mexico, which makes the sedan vulnerable to Trump's tariffs on foreign-built vehicles. As consumer advocates have repeatedly warned, tariffs will increase car prices — and for budget cars like the Sentra, even a modest bump could push them out of reach for inflation-strained buyers. To get ahead of the potential impact, Nissan is reportedly weighing a shift in production. According to Automotive News, Nissan is reportedly looking into sidestepping some tariffs by shifting Sentra production to its underutilized facility in Canton, Mississippi. Nissan already builds two vehicles — the Altima sedan and Frontier pickup — at the American factory. The report cites a supplier familiar with the matter. When reached for comment, Nissan didn't confirm the shift. 'We regularly evaluate our industrial strategy with supplier partners based on market requirements,' a Nissan spokesperson told 'We've made no changes to our plan.' Even if Sentra production is moved stateside, the car may still be caught in the tariff crossfire. Trump's tariffs include taxes on automotive parts, and Nissan sources many key components — including elements of the powertrain — from its Mexican facilities. The administration's existing tariffs on aluminum and steel could also further inflate the cost of building cars domestically. Michael DeLong, a research and advocacy associate with the Consumer Federation of America, warned that these policies could have broad financial consequences. 'The Trump administration's tariffs are going to increase costs of various steel and other metals and drive up auto costs,' he told 'It's not going to be helpful to consumers. It would make auto costs increase for everyone.' The pressure comes at a time when car prices are already straining American budgets. The average price of a new vehicle in the US hit $48,000 last year, with average monthly payments exceeding $700. There are increasingly few new vehicles that have low prices in the American market. With the death of the Versa, no vehicle will start with a sub $20,000 starting price in the US. Meanwhile, pricing has remained a strong suit for competitors outside the US. Some vehicles that compete with American-made cars on the global market, including China's BYD Seagull, deeply undercut US vehicles on price. The Seagull's base model costs about $7,800. Nissan, with six models priced under $30,000, has maintained a foothold in the American budget segment — but that competitive pricing hasn't translated into strong profits. Its cars, which use dated powertrain parts, have been panned by gearheads as long in the tooth. The Japanese automaker reported a $93.6 million sales loss at the end of 2024, prompting Moody's to downgrade its credit rating to 'junk' status . Nissan had been in merger talks with Honda in order to stay alive. Those negotiations fell apart earlier this year, after the companies couldn't agree on the structure of a new deal.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
America's cheapest car model eyes US production to escape tariffs in huge victory for Trump
The Nissan Sentra was poised to take over as the most affordable new car in the US in 2026. Then came President Donald Trump's tariffs. With the $17,190 Nissan Versa to be discontinued after the 2025 model year, the $21,590 Sentra was on track to become the country's lowest-priced new vehicle. Not anymore. Final assembly of the Sentra takes place in Aguascalientes, Mexico, which makes the sedan vulnerable to Trump's tariffs on foreign-built vehicles. As consumer advocates have repeatedly warned, tariffs will increase car prices — and for budget cars like the Sentra, even a modest bump could push them out of reach for inflation-strained buyers. To get ahead of the potential impact, Nissan is reportedly weighing a shift in production. According to Automotive News, Nissan is reportedly looking into sidestepping some tariffs by shifting Sentra production to its underutilized facility in Canton, Mississippi. Nissan already builds two vehicles — the Altima sedan and Frontier pickup — at the American factory. The report cites a supplier familiar with the matter. When reached for comment, Nissan didn't confirm the shift. 'We regularly evaluate our industrial strategy with supplier partners based on market requirements,' a Nissan spokesperson told 'We've made no changes to our plan.' Even if Sentra production is moved stateside, the car may still be caught in the tariff crossfire. Trump's tariffs include taxes on automotive parts, and Nissan sources many key components — including elements of the powertrain — from its Mexican facilities. The administration's existing tariffs on aluminum and steel could also further inflate the cost of building cars domestically. Michael DeLong, a research and advocacy associate with the Consumer Federation of America, warned that these policies could have broad financial consequences. 'The Trump administration's tariffs are going to increase costs of various steel and other metals and drive up auto costs,' he told 'It's not going to be helpful to consumers. It would make auto costs increase for everyone.' The pressure comes at a time when car prices are already straining American budgets. The average price of a new vehicle in the US hit $48,000 last year, with average monthly payments exceeding $700. There are increasingly few new vehicles that have low prices in the American market. With the death of the Versa, no vehicle will start with a sub $20,000 starting price in the US. Meanwhile, pricing has remained a strong suit for competitors outside the US. Some vehicles that compete with American-made cars on the global market, including China's BYD Seagull, deeply undercut US vehicles on price. The Seagull's base model costs about $7,800. Nissan, with six models priced under $30,000, has maintained a foothold in the American budget segment — but that competitive pricing hasn't translated into strong profits. Its cars, which use dated powertrain parts, have been panned by gearheads as long in the tooth. The Japanese automaker reported a $93.6 million sales loss at the end of 2024, prompting Moody's to downgrade its credit rating to 'junk' status. Nissan had been in merger talks with Honda in order to stay alive. Those negotiations fell apart earlier this year, after the companies couldn't agree on the structure of a new deal. Toyota has reportedly considered adding Nissan to its portfolio of investments. Ivan Espinosa, a long-time Nissan employee, took over as CEO for the struggling carmaker in April. Nissan executives were privately telling reporters in November that the company had '12 to 14 months' of cash to survive.
CBS News
2 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Watch Live: Karen Read trial resumes as prosecution's case nears end
The Karen Read trial is back inside Norfolk Superior Court on Tuesday for the first time in nearly a week as the prosecution could be entering the final days of its case. You can watch testimony live on CBS News Boston when it begins at 9 a.m. by clicking on the video player above. The prosecution accuses Read of hitting and killing Boston police officer John O'Keefe, who she was dating at the time, with her SUV and leaving him to die in the cold outside Brian Albert's home in Canton after a night of heavy drinking. Read argues she is being framed and O'Keefe was actually killed during a fight inside the home at 34 Fairview Road. The defense could get the case at some point in the coming days. Read told reporters outside of court recently that Dr. Judson Welcher from Aperture LLC is expected to be the prosecution's final witness. Lawyers cannot confirm when Welcher or other witnesses will take the stand because they remain under a gag order. Special prosecutor Hank Brennan has been questioning the majority of witnesses. Alan Jackson has questioned most of witnesses on cross-examination for the defense, with David Yannetti and Bob Alessi questioning some as well. Karen Read trial schedule Full days of testimony are scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. A half day of testimony is scheduled to take place on Thursday. Judge Beverly Cannone delayed the start of Wednesday's witness testimony when she said an "issue" came to her attention that required her to question every juror individually at sidebar. When court proceedings resumed, all jurors were still present, though two had changed seats. Last week's witnesses included a forensic analyst discussing the movement of Read's Lexus SUV, a brain surgeon, and a crime lab analyst.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Widow honors fallen heroes with flowers at Georgia National Cemetery
The Brief Emilie Farmer placed flowers at graves to honor veterans with no decorations. Her late husband's resting place inspired her to take action across the cemetery. Local florists and Kroger are donating flowers to support her ongoing mission. CANTON, Ga. - This Memorial Day, Emilie Farmer brought dozens of flowers to Georgia National Cemetery to ensure every fallen soldier is remembered. She started donating flowers for soldiers whose resting places were bare. "It broke my heart when I saw those markers. Nobody had flowers, no flag, no nothing", said Emilie Farmer, widow to Marine veteran Marion Otis Farmer. "My husband was a Marine, and he was a wonderful man. He's my hero." But she said she's doing this for every servicemember who has been laid to rest there. "Not only him, but all veterans because of their sacrifice, given their lives for their country," Farmer said. "They deserve the very best. I am not able to do as much as I'd like to do, but I'm doing what I can." The backstory Emilie Farmer lost her husband of 54 years two years ago. She now honors him—and other veterans buried at Georgia National Cemetery—by placing flowers at headstones that appear neglected or bare. Local florists and Kroger have donated their surplus flowers to help support the effort. The idea started when Emilie noticed how empty her husband's columbarium looked after his passing. She began bringing flowers not just for him, but for surrounding graves that had no decorations. Over time, she expanded her efforts to include hundreds of graves and now even adds palms during Easter. Why you should care Many veterans at the cemetery have no family nearby to visit or decorate their resting place. Although flags are placed at each grave in honor of Memorial Day, Emilie's effort ensures these heroes are remembered, not just on Memorial Day, but throughout the year. What you can do Emilie says her work doesn't end when Memorial Day does. She's asking for more help and flower donations to continue her mission of honoring fallen service members year-round. She said people wishing to help can contact Georgia National Cemetery's administration office at 770-479-9300. SEE ALSO: Metro Atlanta honors those who died for their country on Memorial Day Roswell Rotary Club marks 26th year of honoring POWs, MIAs and the fallen Gwinnett County honors fallen soldiers at 22nd annual Memorial Day ceremony Shepherd's Men march 12 miles to honor veterans, raise funds for SHARE program Memorial Day ceremonies, events in metro Atlanta, North Georgia | May 2025 The Source This article is based off of original reporting by FOX 5's Rob DiRienzo.
