Car crashes into tree in Brookline, injured driver found nearby

Brookline police are investigating after a driver allegedly fled the scene of a fiery early-morning crash Friday on Aspinwall Avenue.

A vehicle crashed into a tree and caught fire just before 6 a.m. near 162 Aspinwall Ave, according to police.

Investigators said the driver left the scene following the crash but was located injured a few blocks away. He was taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for treatment, according to an NBC Boston report. No other injuries were reported.

Photos released by the Brookline Police Department show emergency responders hosing down a severely damaged vehicle at the crash site.

In a Facebook post following the crash, police credited Brookline firefighters for their quick response.

“Shoutout to our partners at Brookline Fire who responded quickly after a car crashed into a tree at 5:49 AM on Aspinwall Ave. Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames before it spread to any neighboring homes,” Brookline police wrote. “After the crash, the driver was reported to have fled the scene. A possible suspect was located a few blocks away, injured. He was subsequently transported to the hospital for treatment. Traffic investigators are investigating.”

In a statement to Brookline News, Lt. David Hill of the Brookline Police Department’s community service division said the driver is a New York resident and will be charged with operating under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident. He may also face additional traffic offenses, Hill said.

Morgan Rousseau is a freelance writer for Boston.com, where she reports on a variety of local and regional news.