NEWBURY – An Endicott College police sergeant was killed by a wrong-way driver in a crash on Interstate 95 in Newbury, Massachusetts, on Thanksgiving, police said.
Endicott College Police Sergeant. Jeremy Cole
Sergeant Jeremy Cole of Exeter, New Hampshire was 49 years old.
David Le/Endicott College
Massachusetts State Police said he was driving a Chevrolet Trailblazer on 95 North just after midnight when a Tesla traveling south in Newbury crashed into his SUV.
The Newbury Fire Department said both drivers were trapped in their car and it took almost an hour to get them out. Sergeant Cole died at the scene.
The Tesla driver was taken to a Boston hospital by medical rescue helicopter with serious injuries. State police have not released his name. They described him as “a man in his 40s from southeastern Massachusetts.”
Wrong driver
The Tesla was first spotted driving the wrong way on I-95 by New Hampshire State Police.
“Massachusetts State Troopers from Troop A and New Hampshire State Police maintained visual contact with the wrong-way vehicle through the Newburyport area while police in Georgetown prepared a tire deflation device,” said Massachusetts State Police spokesman Tim McGuirk in a statement.
“Before the wrong vehicle reached the device, the Tesla struck a Chevrolet Trailblazer at mile marker 81.5 in Newbury.”
Interstate 95 was closed in both directions for several hours after the crash, police said.
The Tesla driver “is expected to face charges that will be announced in an upcoming update. The case remains under investigation by state police detectives assigned to the Essex County District Attorney’s Office,” McGuirk said.
“We extend our condolences to Sergeant Cole’s family, loved ones and colleagues at this difficult time.”
