Thursday, 4:30 PM
Highway worker protects trooper in I-495 crash, both seriously hurt
By Andrew Ryan, Globe Correspondent
A state trooper was seriously injured this afternoon working a road detail on Interstate 495 when a tractor-trailer rammed a highway truck and then hit his cruiser, which was parked with its lights flashing, police said.
The trooper, Michael Fitzgerald, was flown to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center with "serious injuries,' according to a release from state police. Fitzgerald was spared from facing the full force of the tractor-trailer when the driver of the Mass Highway truck sensed danger and turned his vehicle to protect the trooper.
The highway truck driver, Kevin Sullivan, 59, of Carver, was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton by ambulance with serious injuries, police said.
The 1:45 p.m. accident on southbound Interstate 495 near Exit 4 in Middleborough temporarily closed the interstate in both directions. The road has since opened to traffic.
According to a preliminary investigation by state police, Fitzgerald's cruiser was parked in front of the Mass. Highway truck in the right travel lane while the road was being repaired. The emergency lights of both vehicles were flashing.
Police said a fully loaded 1995 Mack tractor-trailer came down the right travel lane, heading for the truck and the police cruiser. Sullivan moved the truck to protect Fitzgerald, and the Mack hit the highway truck before ramming the police cruiser.
The highway truck flipped over the guardrail and rolled into the woods, police said. The driver of the Mack tractor-trailer, Duane Sylvia, 43, of Middleborough, suffered minor injuries.
The crash remains under investigation. No charged have been filed.
Fitzgerald has been on the department for one year and is assigned to the Bourne Barracks.
