A Massachusetts State Police trooper was injured early Sunday when a wrong-way driver slammed into his cruiser on Route 1 in Peabody, according to authorities. The trooper was taken to a local hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening and is expected to recover. Police say the other driver was treated at the same hospital, released, and now faces criminal charges.
What officials say
Massachusetts State Police identified the driver as 41-year-old Lucas Gustavo Brajak DeAlmeida Benedetto of Newburyport. He is charged with operating under the influence of liquor, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and driving the wrong way on a state highway. A trooper spotted Benedetto’s vehicle heading south in the northbound lanes shortly before 2 a.m. and coordinated with other troopers to keep traffic off the roadway before the collision. Both the trooper and the wrong-way driver were transported to local hospitals, as reported by NBC Boston.
Charges and arraignment
Benedetto was later released from the hospital and is expected to be arraigned Monday in Peabody District Court on the charges, according to Boston 25. The outlet also reported that the trooper remained under observation at a local medical center with non-life-threatening injuries.
A sobering echo of May 6
Sunday’s crash comes on the heels of a deadly wrong-way collision on Route 1 in Lynnfield on May 6 that killed Massachusetts State Police Trooper Kevin Trainor as he responded to a similar call. The timeline of that earlier tragedy and subsequent memorials was covered by The Boston Globe.
What investigators are doing
State police say the investigation into the Peabody crash is active, with investigators working to determine how and why Benedetto’s vehicle entered the highway going against traffic. It remains unclear whether he has retained an attorney, NBC Boston reports. Prosecutors are expected to handle the arraignment and any initial court action in Peabody District Court.
Legal notes
Operating under the influence is treated as a serious offense in Massachusetts. The Registry of Motor Vehicles outlines administrative license suspensions and penalties for OUI convictions, and criminal sentences can include fines, jail time, and license revocation depending on prior offenses, according to Mass.gov. Negligent operation and wrong-way driving are separate counts that can factor into how prosecutors structure the case.
Responding troopers said their immediate priority was stopping other vehicles from entering the affected stretch of Route 1 while they managed the scene, a precaution officials credited with protecting other drivers, Boston 25 reports. Authorities are asking anyone with video or information about the incident to contact the state police barracks handling the investigation.
