METHUEN — A woman is facing charges after a car crash Saturday morning on Interstate 495 that left two people dead and two others with non-life-threatening injuries.
Katrina Nguyen, 26, is charged with motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation and leaving the scene resulting in death, among other charges, according to the Essex County District Attorney’s office. Nguyen allegedly left the scene of the crash, which involved a pickup truck with people trapped inside, though it’s still unclear what her exact involvement in the crash was.
Nguyen will be arraigned Monday in Lawrence District Court.
The crash occurred shortly after 6 a.m., Saturday morning northbound on I-495 just north of Route 213, said authorities. Arriving on scene, state police and Methuen fire found several people trapped in a heavily damaged pickup truck, including a 37-year old man, who was pronounced dead on scene.
It appeared the truck left the fast lane before smashing into a tree, said Deputy Fire Chief Richard Aziz.
Two others managed got themselves out of the wreck and were transported to the hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries, according to authorities.
For 40 minutes crews worked to rescue a fourth person from the truck, including with the help of the jaws of life, said Aziz. After the 41-year-old man was rescued from the vehicle he was transported to Lawrence General Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Aziz reported there were about 85 feet of visible tire marks left at the scene, which was cleared by 10 a.m.
Nguyen later turned herself in to the Lawrence Police Department. She is also being charged with leaving the scene with personal injury, leaving the scene with property damage and operating a motor vehicle after suspension.
The Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, MSP Crime Scene Services Section, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Methuen police, Lawrence police, Haverhill police and MSP detectives all assisted in the investigation.
Aziz said the department responds to similar situations more often than people may realize in part due to the city’s locations off major highways.
“Training kicks in,” said Aziz. “We have a job to do.”
The names of the victims will be released once their families have been notified, authorities said.
