Trooper Matthew McRae back in Massachusetts after crash in Utah

BURLINGTON — Massachusetts State Police soldier Matthew McRae is back in Massachusetts after being injured in an accident in Utah.

McRae was vacationing in Salt Lake City when the shared car he was riding in was hit by an alleged drunk driver. He is going to have a long recovery.

“He’s a trooper’s trooper,” said Patrick McNamara, president of the Massachusetts State Police Association. “If there’s anyone who can do this, it’s him.”

On Thursday, the union president spoke on behalf of everyone with relief that McRae is alive and at home in Massachusetts.

“He has his family, the McRae family, but he also has the family of the state police and Commonwealth citizens,” McNamara said. “I think everyone has shown him incredible support.”

At around 1 a.m. on Friday, August 25, the ride McRae was riding in was hit by the alleged drunk driver. He was immediately taken to the University of Utah Hospital in critical condition, where he has remained ever since.

Once he was well enough to fly, multiple agencies coordinated transport to Lahey Hospital in Burlington.

“This is a full-on surgery that has not only been challenging, but I mean the end result is he’s finally home and in the best hospitals in America,” McNamara said.

McNamara could not comment on the injuries or prospects for recovery, but did praise a community that has gathered to support McRae emotionally and financially.

“We have just great people here in Massachusetts who are committed to supporting a good cause, not looking for recognition, just giving back,” McNamara said.

His fellow soldiers make personal sacrifices to help McRae recover. McNamara said the union is looking for ways for soldiers to donate their hours to McRae because, as a younger soldier, he doesn’t have veterans’ benefits or insurance.