The Marshfield Police Department put an officer on administrative leave this week after he was involved in a serious multi-car crash Sunday evening.
Several 911 callers reported the crash on Route 139 shortly after 9 p.m., stating that one car had flipped over and that multiple people were injured, Marshfield police said in a press release on Friday. Marshfield police and firefighters who responded to the scene found that a Jeep, a Hyundai Elantra and a Honda Civic had collided.
A preliminary investigation indicates that the Jeep was traveling west at a high rate of speed when it passed a tow truck by crossing over solid double yellow lines into the eastbound lane, police said. The Jeep then tried to pass the Hyundai Elantra, again by crossing solid double yellow lines.
The Civic was traveling east on the road as the Jeep tried to pass the Elantra, and the Jeep hit the Civic head-on, police said. The Elantra was also struck during the crash.
The driver of the Civic became trapped inside their car and had to be freed by firefighters, police said. The Jeep driver was able to get out of their car on their own.
Both drivers were taken by ambulance to nearby hospitals with serious, but not life-threatening injuries, police said. The Hyundai driver wasn’t injured in the crash.
How Marshfield police are handling the situation
The Jeep driver was identified as an off-duty Marshfield police officer, police said. The officer has been charged with reckless operation of a motor vehicle and two civil driving infractions in connection with the crash, and may face further charges as the investigation by Marshfield and State Police continues.
“No matter who you are or what position you hold, conduct that endangers the public will be addressed through the appropriate legal process,” Marshfield Police Chief Phillip Tavares said in the press release.
Following the crash, the officer was immediately placed on leave from Marshfield police, and the state police oversight commission was notified. Additionally, the police department plans to hire an independent, third-party organization to investigate the incident and present its findings “for appropriate criminal review.”
“This department is committed to full transparency and accountability,” Tavares said in the release. “A full and complete investigation is being conducted into this incident. The fact that the operator was a police officer will not alter the scope, direction or integrity of this investigation in any way.”
Marshfield police did not identify the officer involved in the crash on Friday, but WCVB identified the officer as Richard Perry.
