Mass. Police: Semi Driver Fell Asleep Before Crashing into Trooper's Car

Oct. 1, 2021
The driver of a tractor-trailer fell asleep at the wheel and woke up as his vehicle careened into an unmarked Massachusetts State Police cruiser, injuring the trooper inside.

The driver of a tractor-trailer that slammed into the back of a Massachusetts State Police cruiser Tuesday night fell asleep before the crash, officials said.

Just before midnight, the tractor-trailer veered into the breakdown lane of Interstate 95 in Weston and hit an unmarked cruiser that had its emergency lights on. A 33-year-old state trooper sitting in the vehicle was seriously injured, according to state police spokesman Dave Procopio.

The tractor-trailer’s driver, a 27-year-old Montreal man, fell asleep at the wheel and woke up as the vehicle careened off-course, state police said. He tried to apply the brakes, Procopio said, but was unable to stop before hitting the cruiser.

The driver will face charges including negligent driving. The charges were filed in Waltham District Court, officials said.

Inside his cruiser, the state trooper heard and saw the tractor-trailer approaching and braced for impact. The force of the crash broke the car’s steering wheel off, pushed it forward and pinned the trooper inside, Procopio said.

Meanwhile, the tractor-trailer struck a guardrail and swerved left across the road, jackknifing across the highway. The entire southbound section of I-95 was closed for a period of time.

The trooper, who was on the highway protecting a tree cutting crew, was transported to Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. He was released Wednesday morning, Procopio said, and will go on medical leave.

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