WESTON, Mass. — A tractor-trailer struck the back of a state police cruiser, seriously injuring the trooper inside. The trooper was alert and was able to radio in the crash himself, but he was taken to a Boston hospital.
Investigators say the operator of the tractor-trailer, a 27-year-old Montreal man, fell asleep and woke up at the last second and tried to apply his brakes, but did so too late to avoid hitting the cruiser.
The driver, whose name was not released, is expected to face charges of negligent operation, failure to move over, and marked lanes violation, according to State Police.
The crash happened in Weston on I-95 south where crews were doing road construction. Just before midnight, state police say a trooper in an unmarked cruiser with his emergency lights on was doing detail for that construction crew. The tractor-trailer struck his cruiser from behind. A picture provided by state police shows heavy damage to the back of the police cruiser.
The trooper is 33-years-old and was on a detail protecting a crew cutting trees that were encroaching on the highway.
The force of the crash broke the steering wheel off the trooper’s cruiser and pushed the cruiser forward. The trooper was pinned in the cruiser.
State Police say the trooper was discharged from Beth Israel Hospital in Boston on Wednesday morning, and will be on injured leave.
BREAKING OVERNIGHT: @MassStatePolice say a trooper was seriously injured after a tractor trailer struck the back of his cruiser. Photo courtesy of MSP. pic.twitter.com/GhYgQcICOP
— Kelly Sullivan (@ksullivannews) September 29, 2021
Following the crash, state police say the tractor-trailer jack-knifed on the highway. Police had to shut down I-95 southbound and divert traffic into Waltham. The tractor-trailer was towed to the Newton 128 rest stop. Boston 25 crews observed the front passenger side of the cab as significantly damaged. The company name written on the side of the cab is Ship Optimus Inc, based out of Quebec City, Quebec.
The tractor trailer ended up jack-knifing and 95 south had to be shut down. It was eventually towed to the Newton rest stop on 128. pic.twitter.com/96HB398uq0
— Kelly Sullivan (@ksullivannews) September 29, 2021
The tractor-trailer driver was “safe and sound,” according to Davinder Singh, the director of operations for Ship Optimus Inc.
Singh said the driver was headed to pickup freight from Amazon Facility in Stoughton at the time of the crash.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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