Driver charged after crash on Interstate 495 leaves 2 dead, 2 others injured

METHUEN, Mass. – A driver has been charged in connection with a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred on Saturday, shortly after 6:00 a.m. in the morning on I-495 northbound in Methuen, the Office of Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker announces.

Massachusetts State Police troopers and Methuen Fire personnel responded to a call and found several people trapped in a heavily-damaged pickup truck. One occupant of the vehicle, a 37-year-old male, was pronounced deceased on scene. Another occupant of the vehicle, a 41-year-old male, was transported to Lawrence General Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased. Two other occupants of the vehicle were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of another vehicle that authorities say was involved in the fatal collision, Katrina Nguyen, 26, allegedly left the scene of the crash. Nguyen later turned herself in at the Lawrence Police Department. She has been charged with two counts of motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation, leaving the scene resulting in death, leaving the scene with personal injury, leaving the scene with property damage, and operating a motor vehicle after suspension. Nguyen will be arraigned in Lawrence Superior Court on Monday, November 4.

The investigation into the incident involved 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 assigned to Tucker’s office and A-Troop. Pending family notifications, the names of the deceased vehicle occupants are not being released at this time.