Massachusetts man sentenced to prison in fatal motor vehicle crash that killed police officer

A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty in District Court to charges related to a fatal motor vehicle crash that took the life of 56-year-old Police Officer Dana Mazola.

Juan Marinez, 27, of Salem pleaded guilty to Motor Vehicle Homicide by Reckless Operation and was found responsible for Speeding and Marked Lanes Violation. Judge Alan Swan sentenced him to two and a half years in the House of Correction with one year to be served followed by six months of home confinement with a GPS, and 5 years of probation. He was ordered not to drive, and his guilty plea resulted in a 15-year loss of license by statute.

Had the case gone to trial, Essex ADA Haleigh Reisman would have introduced evidence that at just after 11:00 p.m. on June 25, 2020, Salem Police responded to a motor vehicle crash near 317 Jefferson Ave. Marinez, who was driving a 2015 Ford Fusion southbound, crossed the double yellow line and hit a 2011 Toyota Corolla, travelling in the northbound lane and operated by Mazola, head-on. Both operators were transported to North Shore Medical Center in Salem. Shortly after arriving, Mazola was pronounced dead. Marinez sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

A subsequent investigation conducted by detectives assigned to the Essex District Attorney’s Office and the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section found that Marinez was travelling between 47 and 55 miles per hour in the moments before the crash. The speed limit on Jefferson Avenue is 25 miles per hour.

“The defendant failed to maintain control of his vehicle due to the high rate of speed and his recklessness ultimately resulted in the death of Dana Mazola,” ADA Reisman said in her sentencing argument. “The loss of his life – a 31-year veteran of the Salem Police Department, a beloved husband, father, uncle, brother-in-law – was avoidable.”

Salem Mayor and current Lieutenant Governor candidate Kim Driscoll issued a statement at the time of Mazola’s death.

“I was absolutely devastated to learn very early this morning about the accident that took the life of Salem Police Officer Dana Mazola. Dana was a conscientious and professional officer, a loving husband and father, and a devoted public servant to the people of Salem. He was, as we say, the ‘salt of the earth’ – a conscientious rank and file patrol officer who worked hard every single shift. Our families often attended the same church services and I fondly recall his two girls helping keep my energetic (at the time) toddler occupied while seated in the pew next to ours. Dana had a big heart and was a warm and caring family man. On behalf of the residents he served with such diligence and dedication for 31 years, I want to express my deepest condolences to his wife Florene and his twin girls, Amanda and Savannah, and all of Dana’s family. This is an unimaginable and heartbreaking loss to them and to our whole community. May he rest in peace.”