Dec. 06--PEABODY -- A Peabody police officer is in serious condition after being struck and thrown over the hood of a pickup truck yesterday morning on Route 1.
Veteran Peabody police Sgt. Eric Zawacki, 37, is at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston recovering from his injuries. Officials could not give many specifics of Zawacki's injuries yesterday but did say that he is expected to survive.
"He's got a problem with his hip, possibly a couple other fractures," said Peabody police Chief Robert Champagne, who added that Zawacki was in surgery around 6 last night.
Zawacki was working a construction detail on the southbound lane of Route 1, near the intersection of Lowell Street, when he was hit around 8:30 a.m. by a truck driven by Elroy Halfrey, 76, of Salem, N.H., according to state police. Zawacki was standing on the side of the road helping another driver with directions when the truck "struck him and the vehicle he was attending to," Peabody Detective Michael Crane said yesterday.
Upon impact, Zawacki was thrown over the hood of the 1991 Chevrolet pickup truck, according to state police, who are investigating the accident.
Zawacki was "conscious and alert" after the accident before being taken by ambulance to Mass General, Crane said.
Halfrey pulled over after the accident and was interviewed by state police. A preliminary investigation revealed that Halfrey's speed and wet road conditions led to the accident. No charges were filed yesterday, but state police said Halfrey will be cited at a later date.
The right and breakdown lanes on the southbound side of Route 1 were closed for several hours after the accident, which led to significant backups, police said. Troop A of the Massachusetts State Police and the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section are investigating the crash.
Zawacki has been with the force since 1998, when he came to Peabody from the Essex County Sheriff's Department. He has been with the city's K-9 unit for much of that time and has also ridden a motorcycle in the force, Champagne said. In September, Zawacki was promoted to sergeant.
"He's a genuinely nice guy, really solid with the troops, a good leader," Champagne said yesterday. "He is a big community policing guy. He did a lot of activities with youngsters with his police dog."
There was no information on whether Halfrey or the driver getting directions were injured in the crash.
Copyright 2011 - The Salem News, Beverly, Mass.
