Overview
- A Massachusetts State Police trooper was struck by a wrong‑way driver on Route 1 in Peabody early Sunday after spotting a southbound vehicle in the northbound lanes.
- Multiple troopers moved to stop other vehicles from entering the roadway and one responding cruiser was hit, sending the trooper and the driver to a local hospital with nonlife‑threatening injuries.
- The driver was identified as 41‑year‑old Lucas Gustavo Brajak DeAlmeida Benedetto of Newburyport and faces charges including OUI (liquor), negligent operation, and driving the wrong way on a state highway with arraignment scheduled in Peabody District Court.
- This crash follows the May 6 death of Trooper Kevin Trainor in a separate Route 1 wrong‑way collision and has intensified criminal and forensic probes into impairment or medical causes in these cases.
- Officials say they are reviewing dashcam and surveillance video and policy options such as expanded wrong‑way warning systems to reduce late‑night entries and better protect troopers and motorists.