N.J. woman charged with operating under the influence after fatal crash in Cambridge

A New Jersey woman was charged with operating under the influence after a fatal, multi-vehicle crash in Cambridge March 21 near the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), prosecutors said,

Lauren Mullins, 32, of Roselle Park, N.J., was arrested by Cambridge police at the scene of the crash and charged with operating under the influence of liquor with serious bodily injury and negligent operation of a motor vehicle, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Cambridge Police Commissioner Christine Elow said in a joint statement.

At approximately 1:21 a.m. March 21, Mullins was driving an SUV eastbound on Massachusetts Avenue near the intersection of Vassar Street, the statement said. The SUV struck a moped and subsequently struck an MIT police cruiser, both of which were travelling in the same direction ahead of Mullins.

Daniel O’Neil, 73, of Boston, was driving the moped and was seriously injured. He was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital where he later died, according to the statement.

Overnight CPD and public safety partners responded to Massachusetts Ave and Vassar St. for a multi-vehicle crash. A New Jersey resident was arrested on-scene for OUI and Negligent Operation. The crash remains under investigation by the CPD Traffic Unit. pic.twitter.com/e9EghZKLD3

— Cambridge Police Department (@CambridgePolice) March 21, 2025

Mullins was arraigned later that day with bail set at $15,000. She was also ordered not to consume alcohol or drugs, not to drive, to remain in Massachusetts, and to submit to random drug and alcohol screens, the statement said.

During Mullins’ bail hearing, her bail was revoked on a pending case out of Boston Municipal Court’s Central division. Mullins was then committed to the Massachusetts Correctional Institution in Framingham, according to court records.

The charges in the pending case include assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, disturbing the peace, assault and battery on a police officer, and trespassing, court records showed.

Mullins’ bail hearing is scheduled for Thursday, according to the statement. Her pretrial hearing is scheduled for April 16, and a pretrial hearing for the pending case is scheduled for April 14, according to court records.

The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Cambridge police, and State Police are conducting an ongoing investigation into the crash.