Waltham, Massachusetts - A heart-wrenching incident unfolded on Wednesday evening as a Waltham police officer and a National Grid utility worker lost their lives in a multi-vehicle crash during a construction detail on Totten Pond Road. The victims, identified as Officer Paul Tracey, a respected 28-year veteran of the Waltham Police Department, and a 36-year-old National Grid worker from Cambridge, succumbed to the devastating collision.
The tragedy struck just after 4 p.m. when 54-year-old Peter Simon of Woodsville, New Hampshire, was behind the wheel of a pickup truck traveling eastbound on Totten Pond Road. According to Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan, Simon attempted a U-turn across the road, leading to a collision with a Jeep. The impact tragically resulted in Officer Tracey and the utility worker being struck.
In the aftermath, Simon's truck continued down Totten Pond Road, colliding with two more vehicles before he abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot into a nearby neighborhood. Shockingly, he reportedly brandished a knife, forcibly stole a Waltham police cruiser at knifepoint, and initiated a pursuit by law enforcement.
"The suspect crashed the cruiser on Winter Street and made an additional attempt to flee on foot before he was apprehended and arrested by a Waltham police officer," disclosed Ryan.
Facing charges of two counts of manslaughter and armed robbery, Simon is set to appear in Waltham District Court on Thursday.
The incident left a devastating aftermath, with Officer Tracey and the National Grid worker losing their lives, and two other National Grid workers sustaining injuries. One injured worker was promptly transported to a hospital for medical attention.
Late into the night, an emotional procession conveyed Officer Tracey's body from Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Boston as investigators delved into the details of the tragic event.
Waltham Police Chief Kevin O’Connell expressed profound grief, remembering Officer Tracey as "a compassionate police officer that always looked out for the underdog." He appealed for privacy for Tracey's family and commended responding officers for their efforts in aiding the victims and apprehending Simon.
The law enforcement community, alongside various agencies, conveyed condolences on social media, highlighting the far-reaching impact of the tragedy. The MBTA Transit Police Department, the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, and the Newton Police Department were among those offering support and prayers for the families and colleagues affected.
In a joint statement, Ryan and O’Connell hinted at potential additional charges against Simon as the investigation unfolds. The incident, described as an "unimaginable tragedy," has reverberated through Waltham, leaving a community in mourning for the loss of a dedicated police officer and a utility worker.
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