Driver arrested after wrong way crash injures Massachusetts State Trooper, K9, two others

Several people were injured, including a State Trooper, after a morning wrong-way crash.

According to Massachusetts State Police, at approximately 4:00 a.m. on Saturday, Troopers from the Massachusetts State Police Springfield Barracks responded to multiple reports of a wrong-way operator traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 91 in the area of Chicopee. Callers reported that the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed in the left lane.

Troopers responding from the Springfield area initiated a rolling roadblock on Interstate 91 North near Exit 9, with emergency lights activated, in an effort to safely stop the vehicle and protect other motorists.

As a Trooper positioned his cruiser in an attempt to stop the wrong-way vehicle, the operator swerved and struck another cruiser being operated by a Trooper assigned to the Massachusetts State Police K-9 Unit. The impact occurred on the rear driver’s side of the cruiser. The wrong-way vehicle then struck another passenger vehicle head-on.

The Trooper who was struck, his K-9, and the operator of the other vehicle were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The wrong-way operator, identified as Jose Santiago, 28, of Holyoke, was taken into custody and is also being evaluated for minor injuries.

Santiago is facing charges including Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol, Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle, and other motor vehicle offenses.

“The incident we witnessed this morning in Chicopee is another reminder of the serious danger created when someone makes the reckless decision to drive while impaired. I want to commend the bravery and quick actions of our Troopers, whose efforts to stop this wrong-way driver likely prevented further injuries and potentially saved lives,” said Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey Noble.

“Since the tragic loss of Trooper Kevin Trainor in early May, this marks the third incident involving a Trooper being struck by a wrong-way operator. These incidents demonstrate the risks our Troopers and all of law enforcement face every day on our roadways. The Massachusetts State Police remain committed to enforcing impaired driving laws and holding accountable those whose dangerous decisions put lives at risk.”