CLINTON — On Thursday, July 23, 2026, at approximately 11:42 p.m., Clinton police dispatch received a 911 call reporting a motor vehicle crash on Allen Street.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narrative of Officer Michael Frick and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
Clinton Police Officer Michael Frick said the report was that a vehicle struck a parked vehicle on the side of the roadway.
When Officer Frick arrived on scene, he observed a black 2017 Mini Cooper on the westbound side of Allen Street facing eastbound.
“The vehicle was all the way over the edge of the roadway and into two parked cars in front of LeCompte Auto Repair,” Officer Frick said. “There was heavy front-end damage to the Mini Cooper as well as damage to the front ends of both parked vehicles. I also took note, immediately, of a male in the roadway across the street from the crash.”
Officer Frick asked the man if he was involved in the crash and he said he was just walking by.
“I then took note of a female later identified as [42-year-old] Amy Makynen,” Officer Frick said. “Ms. Makynen was leaning up against the rear passenger side door of her vehicle, the Mini Cooper. I then asked if she was in the vehicle involved in the crash. Ms. Makynen responded she did not know.”
Officer Frick then asked Makynen if anyone else was in the car with her and if it was her car.
“Ms. Makynen had a difficult time answering my questions and was slurring her speech and was difficult to understand,” Officer Frick said. “Seeing the damage to the vehicle, I then radioed for an ambulance to check on Ms. Makynen.”
At around this time, Officer Kyle Grady and Officer John McNamara arrived on scene.
“I then further spoke to Ms. Makynen,” Officer Frick said. “I could detect a very strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from her breath and person, she was very unsteady on her feet swaying side to side, and her eyes were bloodshot red and glassy. I also took note that her speech was very slurred and difficult to understand as she was blending words together.”
Officer Frick added that Makynen was using the side of her vehicle for balance.
“I then asked Ms. Makynen for her driver’s license and I took note that the passenger side door was open. She reached inside the door and began to open her glove box,” Officer Frick said. “Ms. Makynen almost fell face first onto her passenger seat. At this time, I told her to stand outside the car and lean against it as not to fall. I also asked how much Ms. Makynen had to drink and what she was drinking.”
Officer Frick said Makynen gave him a confused look in response.
“I asked if she was drinking Four Loko in a camo can,” Officer Frick said. “I asked this because there was a Four Loko can in her front center console cupholder opened up. I took note that the percentage of alcohol was over 13%.”
Officer Frick said that, at this time, the Clinton Fire Department ambulance arrived on scene.
“I asked Ms. Makynen if she hit her head, if she was wearing a seatbelt, if she felt injured, if anything was hurting her,” Officer Frick said. “She could not remember if she wore her seatbelt, but stated she normally does. She stated she did not hit her head, and nothing was hurting her.”
Officer Frick said the EMTs would not allow Makynen to sign a refusal form because she was highly intoxicated and told her she would have to go to the hospital.
“I advised Ms. Makynen of this,” Officer Frick said. “It was at this time I formed the opinion that Ms. Makynen was operating a motor vehicle under the influence of an intoxicating liquor and her ability to operate a motor vehicle safely was impaired.”
Makynen was subsequently transported to UMass Clinton Hospital.
“I escorted Ms. Makynen in the ambulance to UMass Clinton Hospital,” Officer Frick said.
Officer Grady conducted a motor vehicle inventory and secured the open container of alcohol which was photographed, tagged, and placed into temporary evidence.
Officer McNamara obtained the VIN numbers of the two vehicles parked in front of LeCompte Auto & Truck Repair. Officer Frick said one of the vehicles was a 2011 black Ford Ranger and the other was a white 2008 Volvo XC90.
“Both vehicles had front end damage,” Officer Frick said. Adding, “Officer McNamara then followed the ambulance and assisted me at the hospital.”
At the hospital, Makynen was read her Miranda rights, handcuffed to the hospital bed, and advised she was under arrest.
“Ms. Makynen advised me she had about eight drinks, was drinking at a friend’s house then left the home,” Officer Frick said.
Officer Frick said he was able to obtain video of the crash from an individual who was working at of LeCompte Auto & Truck Repair at the time of the crash.
“The video shows Ms. Makynen turning from Stone Street and taking a right on Allen Street heading east,” Officer Frick said.
In the video, Officer Frick said Makynen made a very wide right turn, crossed both lanes of travel, went off the road and struck two parked vehicles head-on in the lot.
“Ms. Makynen was then read her statutory right and consent form at the hospital, and she signed the form and checked the yes box to provide a blood sample to determine her blood alcohol concentration,” Officer Frick said. “Officer McNamara provided the instruction and sample kit to the nurse at the hospital, Once the blood was collected, it was placed in temporary evidence in a refrigerator.”
After Makynen was released from the hospital, Officer McNamara transported her to the Clinton Police Department for booking.
Officer Frick said the bail commissioner ordered Makynen held for court.
“An Immediate Threat [Form] was filled out and sent to the RMV,” Officer Frick added.
Amy F. Makynen, 42, of Clinton, was charged with the following:
- OUI-Liquor or .08%
- Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle
- Possess Open Container of Alcohol in Motor Vehicle
- Leave Scene of Property Damage
- Failure to Keep Right
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story took place in July, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.
To learn more about News Link Live’s unique business model, please read the following:
An online business model that could replace local newspapers
Why The Leominster Champion Failed
The Medium is the Message by Marshall McCLuhan
