NEWBURYPORT – The accused drunk driver charged with causing a wrong direction crash that left the Endicott College police sergeant dead Jeremy Cole on Thanksgiving smelled of alcohol and marijuana after the crash, prosecutors said.
Keoma Duarte charged in crash
The Essex County District Attorney’s Office said 40-year-old Keoma Duarte, of New Bedford, was charged Tuesday with motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence of liquor and operating recklessly, manslaughter and motor vehicle homicide by reckless conduct in the crash on Interstate 95 in Newbury early Thursday morning.
Duarte also faces charges of speeding and driving the wrong way on a state highway.
CBS Boston
Duarte was arraigned via Zoom from his hospital bed on Tuesday afternoon while lawyers and the judge attended the hearing in Newbury District Court.
During the arraignment, prosecutors said they found seven empty miniature alcohol bottles and one full bottle in the car. Officers also said they discovered burnt marijuana and that Duarte smelled of alcohol.
Prosecutors said Duarte denied hitting anyone even though his damaged vehicle was at the scene.
Prosecutors said in court that Duarte has a lengthy driving record.
A judge ordered Duarte held on $500,000 bail. If he posts bail, he will not be allowed to use alcohol or drugs upon his release. Duarte is scheduled to appear in court on December 19.
CBS Boston
Sergeant Jeremy Cole dead
Sergeant Cole was driving home in Exeter, New Hampshire on 95 North after leaving his evening shift on campus when his Chevrolet Trailblazer was struck head-on by a Tesla driven by Duarte.
Cole died at the scene. Duarte was taken by medical rescue helicopter to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston with serious injuries.
David Le/Endicott College Police
Cole was 49 years old. He left behind a wife and four children.
Cole worked for the Endicott College Police Department for fifteen years.
A procession was held Tuesday afternoon as Cole’s body was taken to a funeral home in Beverly.
CBS Boston
Wrong collision
Massachusetts State Police said New Hampshire State Police first spotted the Tesla going the wrong way on Route 95 in Hampton.
“Duarte initially drove north on I-95 in Hampton before pulling into the parking lot of the northbound NH Liquor & Wine Outlet, which was closed at the time,” New Hampshire State Police said in a statement Tuesday.
“Surveillance footage shows Duarte driving through the property before leaving the entrance at approximately 11:45 p.m. He was first observed by a New Hampshire State Trooper on patrol in the area less than a minute after he went into the wrong way direction was heading.”
Massachusetts State Police set up a tire deflation device on the highway in Georgetown to stop Duarte’s car, but it crashed into Cole’s SUV in Newbury before it reached the device.
