Keoma Duarte, a New Bedford man, was extradited from Massachusetts to New Hampshire to face charges related to a wrong-way crash on Interstate 95 last November that killed an Endicott College police sergeant. Duarte, 40, is charged with two felony counts of reckless conduct and one misdemeanor count of disobeying an officer in New Hampshire, as reported by Boston Globe.
Duarte was arraigned in Essex Superior Court in March on two counts of manslaughter while operating under the influence. He allegedly drove his Tesla the wrong way on the highway for about 14 miles before colliding head-on with Jeremy Cole’s vehicle in Newbury, Massachusetts, on November 27. Cole, 49, was pronounced dead at the scene, as stated by WCVB. New Hampshire authorities said Duarte was first seen driving south in the northbound lanes near a liquor store in Hampton, New Hampshire. After waiving extradition in New Bedford District Court, Duarte was taken into custody by New Hampshire State Police on Tuesday and held at Rockingham County Department of Corrections before his arraignment.
At the hospital, Duarte’s blood alcohol level was measured at .16, twice the legal limit, according to Massachusetts prosecutors. Police found seven empty mini vodka bottles and marijuana in Duarte’s Tesla. Prosecutor James Gubotose said, "Up until the point where he was eventually taken to the hospital, he continued to deny to police he had been in an accident, even though his car was crushed and he had, in essence, crushed Sgt. Cole," as mentioned by WCVB. Sgt. Cole, a 25-year veteran of the Endicott College Police Department, died in the crash. The case is ongoing as New Hampshire authorities continue legal proceedings against Duarte.
