Massachusetts State Police arrest driver after head-on wrong-way crash results in serious injuries for child passengers

A female driver has been arrested by Massachusetts State Police concerning a wrong-way crash that seriously injured children.

According to Massachusetts State Police, at approximately 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, January 11, the State Police-Westfield Barracks was notified of a wrong-way operator, driving east on Route 90 westbound, in the Blandford area. Troopers responded to the area and found that the wrong-way vehicle, a 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan, had crashed head on into an apportioned tow truck.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the Dodge was traveling east on the westbound side when it struck the tow truck driving westbound head on. The impact from that crash sent the tow truck into the left lane, while the Dodge (the wrong-way vehicle) went into the breakdown lane.

The driver of the Dodge, Kayla Savery, 39, of Copake Falls, New York, was transported to Baystate Springfield for minor injuries. One of her juvenile passengers was transported to Baystate Springfield with serious injuries. The second of her juvenile passengers was also transported to Baystate Springfield for evaluation. The driver of the tow truck was uninjured.

The facts and circumstances of the incident, including where and why the wrong-way operator entered the wrong side of the highway, remain under investigation by the State Police-Westfield Barracks, the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section.

Savery was placed under arrest at the hospital and is facing several charges including OUI-Liquor or .08 Serious Injury, Child Endangerment While OUI, Reckless Operation of Motor Vehicle, and Negligent Operation, Wrong Way.

Bail was set at $1000.

Savery was booked at the Westfield Barracks and was then transported to Chicopee Women’s Correctional Center.