A New Bedford man has been charged for allegedly driving drunk and recklessly within the wrong-way crash that killed Endicott School Police Sgt. Jeremy Cole the night time earlier than Thanksgiving, the Essex County DA introduced Tuesday.
Keoma Duarte, 40, of New Bedford, was arraigned in Newburyport District Court docket and pleaded not responsible to prices referring to the deadly crash on Tuesday, the DA stated.
Simply earlier than midnight on Wednesday, Nov. 27, Duarte was allegedly driving his 2023 Tesla Mannequin Y the incorrect approach within the northbound lane on Interstate 95. The Tesla crashed into the police sergeant’s 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer in Newbury close to the Central Avenue overpass.
Cole, 49, of Exeter, New Hampshire, was declared lifeless on the scene.
Duarte was taken through MedFlight to Massachusetts Common Hospital in Boston with critical accidents, the DA’s workplace stated. The motive force appeared on Zoom from his hospital mattress for his arraignment Tuesday.
Duarte was charged with motorcar murder whereas working below the affect of liquor and working recklessly, manslaughter, and motorcar murder by reckless operation, the DA stated. He additionally faces civil motorcar infractions for driving within the incorrect path on a state freeway, dashing and marked lanes violation.
Newburyport District Court docket Choose Peter Doyle ordered Duarte held on $500,000 money bail. His bail will probably be reviewed at a possible trigger listening to on Dec. 19.
New Hampshire Police stated in a launch, additionally Tuesday, that felony prices within the Granite State are additionally forthcoming, pending the investigation there.
The New Hampshire police stated troopers noticed the wrong-way driver within the northbound lanes of I-95 in Hampton, earlier than the crash, and engaged in “emergency efforts to stop” the Tesla.
Their preliminary investigation, the New Hampshire State Police stated, decided Duarte was driving the precise approach on I-95 earlier than getting into the car parking zone of a closed NH Liquor and Wine Outlet. Surveillance footage reveals Duarte’s automotive drive by the lot and depart from the doorway at about 11:45 p.m.
A New Hampshire State Trooper noticed the automotive lower than one minute after getting into the street within the incorrect path, the police stated.
On the arraignment Tuesday, prosecutor James Gubitose stated Massachusetts State Police caught as much as Duarte when he crossed state strains, paralleling him on the precise aspect of the street with lights and sirens and shining a highlight.
“They were going to put stop sticks down the road to try to stop him, because it was evident that he wasn’t aware or didn’t care that he was on the wrong side of the highway, putting everyone in danger,” stated Gubitose.
Earlier than they may, he continued, the Tesla collided head on with Cole’s truck as he was headed residence from work.
After the crash, officers approached Duarte in his automotive, discovering the airbag had gone off, Gubitose recounted. The prosecutor stated they discovered his responses “hesitant, delayed and lethargic,” a “strong odor of alcohol in his breath” and his eyes “glassy.”
“He adamantly denied that he had collided with anybody up until the point where he was eventually taken to the hospital,” stated Gubitose. “He continued to deny to the police he had been in an accident, even though his car was crushed, and he had, in essence, crushed Sergeant Cole.”
A physician reported “significant intoxication” when Duarte received to the hospital, Gubitose stated, and his blood alcohol of 1.9 grams of alcohol per deciliter, a measure that interprets to .19%, or greater than twice the authorized driving restrict of 0.08%. Seven empty shot-sized containers of Smirnoff vodka have been discovered within the automotive, together with a receipt indicating they have been purchased earlier within the night, together with burnt marijuana, based on the prosecutor.
Duarte has a historical past with the courtroom, the prosecutor stated, together with three accidents and a number of other dashing and different driving violations.
Massachusetts State Police are persevering with to research the incident.
A GoFundMe elevating cash for Cole’s household, together with his spouse and 4 kids, reached over $100,000 on Tuesday afternoon.
“Sergeant Jeremy Cole (or J Cole as we all called him) was a great man and a symbol of what it means to protect and serve,” the GoFundMe message reads. “He always made himself available to every student on campus, and made sure everyone knew they had his love and support no matter what the situation was.”
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