A New Hampshire man is facing a slew of charges, including second degree murder, after a violent crash that took the lives of a Waltham police officer and a National Grid employee, officials said. Peter Simon, 54, was indicted by a Middlesex County grand jury in connection with the incident that killed Officer Paul Tracey, 58, and Roderick Jackson, 36, last December, as per a statement from Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Waltham Chief of Police Kevin O’Connell.
Simon, hailing from Woodsville, NH is accused of causing mayhem on Totten Pond Road in Waltham. According to the official account, Simon first pulled over in his pickup truck, before swerving back into traffic and causing the fatal collisions. The chaos unfolded around 4:00 p.m. on December 6, 2023, when Simon, allegedly hit several vehicles after the initial crash, abandoned his truck, and threatened a responding officer with a knife before driving off in the officer's cruiser, authorities specified.
Following a detailed investigation and crash reconstruction by the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, it was determined that Simon was pushing the pedal to the metal – literally. Reports suggest the vehicle was barreling down the road at speeds close to 63 miles per hour when the deaths occurred. The indictment includes two counts of second degree murder and motor vehicle homicide, among a litany of other charges, including armed robbery, armed carjacking, and resisting arrest.
Held without bail, Simon awaits his day in court, an arraignment scheduled for a later date at Middlesex Superior Court. Digging into the case are prosecutors Christopher Tarrant and Michael Klunder, with Susie Marshall stepping in as the victim witness advocate. Despite the indictments, it's the rule of law to presume innocence until guilt is proven, as noted in a statement from the District Attorney's office.
The District Attorney’s Office, Waltham Police, and State Police are working jointly on this ongoing investigation. The story is still developing, and more details will emerge as the legal proceedings advance.
