2 Drivers Cited After State Police Cruisers Hit On Route 24, Mass Pike
WEST BRIDGEWATER (CBS) – Two drivers were cited after striking Massachusetts State Police cruisers during separate crashes about an hour apart late Monday night.
Both troopers were outside the vehicles in each incident.
The first was on Route 24 north in West Bridgewater around 10 p.m. Monday. The trooper had to jump over a guardrail to get out of the way as the cruiser was hit from behind by another car.
That trooper had pulled over a 2007 Lexus. The cruiser was hit from behind by a 2018 Tesla Model 3 being driven by a 42-year-old Weston man.
The impact from the crash pushed the cruiser into the Lexus, and forced the trooper to quickly jump out of the way. He was hurt landing on the ground. He was treated at Good Samaritan Hospital and later released.
State Police charged the Tesla driver with negligent operation of a motor vehicle.
About an hour later, troopers responded to a crash on the eastbound side of the Mass Pike in Warren. While working with a tow company, two troopers had the emergency lights on in their cruisers and were standing nearby.
A 2019 Subaru Outback driven by a 30-year-old Brighton man did not move over and slammed into the back of one of the cruisers.
The crash broke a rear axle and pushed the cruiser onto one of the trooper's feet. The trooper was then thrown into the road, sustaining serious injuries that are expected to keep him off the job for several weeks.
The crash caused minor damage to the second cruiser.
Police cited the Subaru driver for negligent operation of a motor vehicle, operating at a speed greater than reasonable, and failure to take care in stopping.
State law requires drivers to move over a lane if they see an emergency vehicle with its flashing lights on.
"You got to watch your back the whole time you're out there," said Bridgewater Auto Body Owner Richard Ellis. "My heart sinks I don't want to see anyone hurt out there."
Ellis has been driving a tow truck on Route 24 and I-495 for more than 30 years.
"Cars are whipping by you, nobody slows down and moves over for us out there," said Ellis. "If you see anybody on the side of the road anybody, a car broken down, police, fire, tow trucks, EMTs, highway workers, anybody on the side of the road slow down and just move over."
