Female driver issued bail, victim’s names released, in double fatal crash on Route 495 that injured 2 others

METHUEN, Mass.–A driver has been arraigned in connection with a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred on Saturday shortly after 6:00 a.m. 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 individuals trapped in a heavily-damaged 2015 Ford F-250 pickup truck. One occupant of the vehicle, Celso Glayson Dias, 37, of Worcester, was pronounced deceased on scene. Another occupant of the vehicle, Kenny Roberto de Oliveira Alves Milanez, 41, of Worcester, was transported to Lawrence General Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased. Two other occupants of the vehicle were transported to the hospital with injuries.

The defendant, Katrina Nguyen, 26, of Lawrence, who was driving a 2014 Acura MDX, allegedly left the scene of the fatal 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 resulting in personal injury, leaving the scene resulting in property damage, and operating a motor vehicle after suspension. At the Lawrence District Court arraignment, Nguyen pled not guilty to all charges. The Hon. Mark A. Sullivan set bail at $200,000.

Assistant District Attorney Jessica Fleet handled the arraignment on behalf of the Commonwealth. Nguyen was represented by attorney James Edward Klotz. Nguyen is slated to return for a virtual court pretrial hearing on November 26.

Celso Glayson Dias was reportedly on his way to work at the time of the crash and had purchased plane tickets for his parents to join him for Christmas from Caratinga, Brazil. He leaves behind 2 children.

The investigation into the incident involved the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) 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.