By SYDNEY SCHWARTZ
The Patriot Ledger

MARSHFIELD - A man who witnessed a chase that led to a fatal accident Saturday night said police and a motorcyclist were driving at high speeds just before the crash.

Steve Burke of Cohasset said he and his wife were driving home from Cape Cod at about 9 p.m. Saturday when he saw a motorcycle speed through a stop sign on Route 3A. A Marshfield police cruiser was close behind. Seconds later, Burke said, he saw the motorcycle on fire.

‘‘He was being chased. They were going pretty fast,’’ Burke said. ‘‘They were going like 100 (mph). I thought the cops should’ve backed off. That’s how accidents happen.’’

Paul Rheaume, 41, of Pembroke, was killed when the motorcycle he was riding crossed the center line and hit an oncoming car. A police officer who had tried to stop Rheaume moments earlier was also injured in the crash on Route 3A near the Spring Street intersection.

Marshfield police said officers must follow guidelines when pursuing someone but they must also rely on their own judgment. Officers communicate with supervisors before and during chases, which happen about two or three times a year in town, Marshfield Police Lt. Phil Tavares said.

‘‘They’re usually short, and they’re for good reason,’’ he said of police pursuits.

Tavares said a vehicle speeding and swerving down the road could pose a threat.

‘‘A motorcycle at high speeds is essentially a rocket,’’ Tavares said. ‘‘Basically it’s a balancing act to determine if the risk outweighs the benefit of apprehending them. ... If a person poses a significant danger to our community, we can’t just let him go because we don’t have a crystal ball and we don’t know what would happen if we did.’’

Marshfield police would not release the names of the two people in the car who were injured or the name of the police officer who chased Rheaume. Police referred all questions about the accident to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office, which, along with Marshfield and State Police, is investigating. A spokesman for District Attorney Timothy Cruz said that office had no further comment on the accident.

Marshfield police said an officer in a cruiser was patrolling Union Street near Arrowhead Drive on Saturday night because of an earlier report of motorcycles speeding in the area. The officer tried to stop Rheaume for a motor vehicle violation, but the biker sped away. Police would not say what the violation was. Rheaume was driving with a suspended license.

Tavares said another factor that police weigh when considering whether to pursue someone is whether they know the person. Rheume had an extensive criminal record that included dozens of motor vehicle violations that led to his driver’s license being suspended or revoked 18 times. He had also been convicted for burglary, assault and other crimes, some on the South Shore, some in western Massachusetts.

Marshfield police did not say whether Rheuame was known to their department.

The fatal accident in Marshfield follows an even deadlier police pursuit by State Police that began in Everett and ended in Somerville during the early morning of May 27. Javier Morales, 29, of Somerville, slammed the SUV he was driving into the side of a taxi after being chased by police, killing one passenger, Paul Farris, and fatally injuring the cab driver, Walid Chahine, who died a week later. A second passenger, Katelyn Hoyt, was seriously injured.

State Police are investigating whether the trooper in that case was correct to continue the chase.

Police say it’s a judgment call that has to be made in a split-second.

‘‘The person that’s being pursued has the ability to stop at any point,’’ Tavares said. ‘‘They’re in control of their own destiny. Our officers always act in what is in the best interest in protecting the members of our community.’’

Sydney Schwartz may be reached at sschwartz@ledger.com .

Copyright 2007 The Patriot Ledger
Transmitted Tuesday, June 19, 2007