PEABODY, MA — A wrong-way crash involving a drunk driver and a Massachusetts State Police cruiser occurred on Route 1 early Sunday morning, injuring both the trooper and the driver.
Authorities reported that the incident took place around 2 a.m. on May 31, 2026, when a trooper spotted a vehicle traveling south in the northbound lane. The trooper immediately alerted fellow officers, initiating a plan to divert oncoming traffic. Shortly thereafter, the vehicle struck the marked cruiser, leading to both the trooper and the driver, identified as 41-year-old Lucas Gustavo Brajak DeAlmeida DiBenedetto of Newburyport, sustaining injuries.
DiBenedetto was charged with operating under the influence and negligent driving. Following his release on $500 cash bail, he failed to appear at his scheduled arraignment on Tuesday, as he was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at Peabody District Court, according to the Essex County District Attorney's Office. Officials confirmed that a default warrant was issued for his return.
Witnesses reported that DiBenedetto admitted to consuming two beers prior to driving home. Observations made by officers at the scene indicated he displayed signs of intoxication, including slurred speech and glassy eyes, leading to his arrest.
State police confirmed that the injured trooper has since been released from the hospital. Governor Maura Healey remarked on the importance of holding DiBenedetto accountable for his actions, emphasizing concerns about public safety in light of the recent incident involving Trooper Kevin Trainor, who was killed in a separate wrong-way crash earlier this month.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing, and authorities are assessing the impact of the ICE detainment on future judicial proceedings.