By Tristan Smith
masslive.com
SHELBURNE FALLS, Mass. — A Massachusetts State Police officer put his life on the line blocking a wrong-way driver on Interstate 91, preventing them from colliding into drivers going the right way and causing injury.
On June 10 at around 5:30 p.m., State Trooper Matthew Trombley of the State Police Shelburne Falls barracks received a call about a wrong-way driver traveling south on Interstate 91 north for several miles, according to authorities.
Trombley took action shortly after receiving the call. Authorities said Trombley spotted the vehicle and sped up to an emergency turnaround lane. “Despite the risk of serious injury to himself,” police said Trombley placed his cruiser in the wrong-way driver’s path to prevent a potential head-on collision between the offender and an innocent driver.
Post-crash images provided by state police show significant damage to the state police cruiser and the operator’s Honda Accord.
“As a result of Trooper Trombley’s quick thinking, he was able to utilize his cruiser to stop the wrong-way operator and heroically save the lives of innocent commuters,” police said.
Trooper Trombley and the suspect operator were transported to a hospital for injuries sustained in the crash. No other vehicles or people were injured in the crash.
Trombley has since been released from the hospital and is back on duty.
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Police are still investigating the circumstances of the crash and the suspect’s name has not been released.
Charges are pending in an investigation.
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