UPDATE (January 26, 2026): Recent reports have been released which identify the woman who lost her life as a result of this accident as 51-year-old Noriko Rapley. No further information is currently available. The investigation is currently in progress.

Norwood, MA — January 25, 2026, a woman was killed and a man was injured due to a plow truck accident off of Lenox Street.

According to authorities, a husband and wife—ages 47 and 51, respectively—were on foot walking in the Norwood Central Station parking lot near the Lenox Street and Cross Street intersection when the accident took place.

Officials indicate that a Ford F-350 with a plow attachment was actively working at snow removal in the parking lot when, for as yet unknown reasons, it reversed into the two pedestrians.

The woman, who had reportedly sustained fatal injuries due to the collision, was declared deceased at the scene. The man suffered non-life-threatening injuries, as well. He was taken to a local medical facility by EMS in order to receive necessary treatment.

The plow truck is apparently owned and operated by a company contracted by Massachusets Bay Transportation Authority specifically for snow removal.

Additional details pertaining to this incident—including the identities of the victims—are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a snow plow working in a public parking lot strikes two pedestrians during an active removal operation, the core legal issue is not just how the driver failed to see them—but whether the company responsible had the right safety protocols in place to prevent this kind of incident in the first place.

Parking lots are complicated environments, especially during snow removal. Pedestrians may be walking between cars or along seemingly clear paths. A truck reversing with a plow attached has limited rear visibility, and the presence of snowbanks, poor lighting, or icy surfaces can make a dangerous situation worse. But those risks are well-known—and professional operators are expected to plan for them.

That’s why investigators will need to determine:

• Whether the truck was equipped with functioning backup alarms and lights, and whether those systems were audible and visible in a snowy environment;
• Whether a spotter was required or used, especially given that the operator was reversing in a lot with known foot traffic;
• What the visibility was like from the driver’s seat, including whether the plow or any snow accumulation further obstructed the view;
• What kind of training the plow driver received, and whether that training included instruction on how to operate safely around pedestrians;
• Whether MBTA or its contractor had written safety protocols for snow operations in pedestrian-accessible areas—and whether those protocols were followed.

I’ve worked on cases where third-party snow contractors were under pressure to finish quickly before peak traffic resumed, leading to rushed operations and preventable injuries. In those cases, it wasn’t just about a driver’s momentary lapse—it was about companies failing to plan for the known dangers of snow removal in areas where the public still has access.

The fact that this happened in a transit-owned parking lot only sharpens the issue. The MBTA and its contractors knew—or should have known—that pedestrians were likely to be present, and that plow operators would need extra safeguards in place.

Key Takeaways:

• A fatal reversing incident during snow removal raises serious questions about the plow driver’s awareness and the company’s safety procedures.
• Backup alarms, lighting, and use of spotters will be critical in determining whether the operator met basic safety standards.
• The presence of pedestrians in a public lot is foreseeable, making precautions not just advisable but necessary.
• Liability may rest not only with the driver, but also with the company contracted to perform the work and any agency overseeing the site.
• Safe snow removal in pedestrian-accessible areas requires more than equipment—it demands planning, training, and operational discipline.