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Teen Charged in Fatal Norwell Car Accident

March 10, 2010 - Norwell - Police say the driver who crashed his Chrysler Pacifica on Sunday night, killing his passenger, was driving under the influence of alcohol. According to reports in The Boston Globe, 18-year-old William Ecclestone was charged with motor vehicle homicide and drunk driving in the death of Ryan O'Donnell.

The fatal DUI accident occurred shortly before 9:30 p.m. on Prospect Street in Norwell. Police believe Ecclestone lost control of his vehicle, which then crashed into a tree and rolled over. The car suffered serious damage during the rollover, and while Ecclestone only had minor injuries, Ryan O'Donnell was fatally injured. He was later pronounced dead at South Shore Hospital.

William Ecclestone, who attended Norwell High School with O'Donnell, is being held at a jail in Plymouth County. His bond has been set at $10,000. Administrators at Norwell High School and Dean College, where Ryan O'Donnell was halfway through his first year, are scheduling counseling sessions for grieving students. Ecclestone's court date has not been set at the time this writing.