21-year-old Massachusetts man charged with motor vehicle homicide after fiery high-speed double fatal highway collision

NORTH READING – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and North Reading Chief of Police Mark Zimmerman have confirmed that a Massachusetts man has been charged with felony motor vehicle homicide, operating under the influence and operating to endanger in connection with a fatal crash that occurred Saturday night in North Reading.

The preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 10:45 p.m., 21-year-old Matthew Sweeney of Paxton was operating an Acura MDX traveling at a high rate of speed on Route 28 when he collided with another vehicle, a Honda HR-V, that was stopped at a red light. As a result of the crash the Honda became engulfed in flames. First responders and a Good Samaritan attempted to get the occupants out of the car but two victims, an adult male and a minor, died on scene.

Sweeney was arrested and charged on scene and will be arraigned tomorrow in Woburn District Court.

The investigation is ongoing.