Police: Lynn teen dies after vehicle struck by wrong-way driver, robbery suspect

SAUGUS, Mass. — A 19-year-old was killed in a head-on crash in Saugus Wednesday afternoon.

Saugus police were called to 7-Eleven on Lincoln Avenue at 10:49 a.m. Wednesday for a report on an unarmed robbery.

While on the way, police were alerted to the suspect’s location traveling east on Ballard Street.

Police tried to stop the suspect, who took off, leading police on a brief chase. Police say they terminated the pursuit when the suspect turned onto Route 107 and began traveling south in the northbound lanes.

About 1/2 mile down the road, the suspect crashed head-on into another vehicle, killing 19-year-old Ashley Forward of Lynn.

Police arrested the suspect, 35-year-old William Leger of Somerville.

Charges will come from Mass. State Police.

Forward’s family members say she was on her way from her boyfriend’s house to get her uniform to start her shift at Target when she was hit and killed just three miles from her family’s front door.

“She meant the world to me, and she taught me how to be a brave girl,” said Jillian, Ashley’s 10-year-old sister.

Forward wanted to be a nurse after graduating from Emmanuel College, her family said.

She was a relatively new driver having gotten her license in April of 2021.

The incident is under investigation by the DA’s office, state police, and Saugus police.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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