State police say a wrong-way driver slammed into a vehicle driven by an Endicott College police sergeant on I-95 in Newbury early Thursday morning, leaving the police sergeant dead and the other driver injured.
Troopers responding to a report of a Tesla driving the wrong way south into Massachusetts on I-95 were preparing a tire-deflation device in Georgetown when the Tesla struck a Chevrolet Trailblazer in the area of mile marker 81.5, according to state police.
The Chevrolet was being driven by Endicott College Police Sgt. Jeremy Cole, 49, of Exeter, New Hampshire, who was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Cole was leaving his evening shift on Endicott College’s campus when he was killed, according to the Endicott College Police Department.
The driver of the Tesla, identified only as a man in his 40s from southeastern Massachusetts, was MedFlighted to a Boston hospital with serious injuries. He is expected to face criminal charges.
In a statement, Endicott College Chief of Police Kerry Ramsdell remembered Cole as “not only a dedicated public servant and prior recipient of a lifesaving award, but also a cherished member of our team.” He received the lifesaving award in 2021 for saving an Endicott softball coach who went into cardiac arrest.
“Jeremy’s kindness, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to our community will never be forgotten. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time,” said Endicott College President Steven R. DiSalvo.
The crash remains under investigation by the State Police Detectives assigned to the Essex County District Attorney’s Office.
In a statement, state police said, “We offer our condolences to the family, loved ones, and colleagues of Sergeant Cole at this difficult time.”
Cole is survived by his wife and four children, according to campus leaders.
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