Massachusetts state police cruiser, car involved in head-on crash in Peabody

PEABODY, Mass. — A Massachusetts state police cruiser and a car were involved in a head-on collision in Peabody.

It happened overnight on Route 1.

According to officials, a trooper from Danvers observed the wrong-way driver traveling south in the northbound lane. The trooper took immediate action and notified fellow officers.

Officials then formulated a plan to stop other vehicles from entering the roadway to protect the public safe and stop the wrong way driver.

Minutes later, the wrong-way driver struck one of the responding troopers in his marked cruiser.

Both were both transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The wrong-way driver, Lucas Gustavo Brajak DeAlmeida Benedetto, 41, of Newburyport was released from the hospital and was charged with several offenses, including an OUI, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and driving the wrong way on a state highway.

He is expected to be arraigned Monday in Peabody District Court.