Two youths stole a forklift and led police on a pursuit through suburban streets before diving off the machine, sending it careering into a police car, and fleeing on foot.
The machine, which the Boston Herald said was a Lull 644 telescopic handler, was stolen from a construction site at a local school in the early hours of July 18.
Residents called police after seeing two boys ram the machine through a locked gate and drive it down suburban streets at about 1am.
A police car intercepted the forklift, but the youths jumped from the moving vehicle and ran off into woodlands.
As the police officer leapt out and chased after the youths, the forklift slammed into his car.
The youths, both aged 20, surrendered to police the next day.