RUTLAND – In an attempt to drive away from a police stop in Paxton on Friday night, a Worcester man was killed when his vehicle crossed the double middle line on Rt. 122 and struck a Rutland K9 Police cruiser head-on.
According to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. Kevin P. St. Peter, 63, of Worcester was pronounced dead at the scene.
Rutland Police Officer Matthew Fenuccio and Paxton Police Officer Edward Santiago both sustained non-life threatening injuries.
“Cooney,” the Rutland police dog was not injured.
According to the DA’s office, shortly after 6 PM several cell phone callers had reported to Paxton Police that a Ford Fusion was operating erratically in town. Paxton police located the car and followed it north on Route 122.
Rutland Police had been alerted and the Rutland K9 cruiser was responding.
St. Peter was driving the Ford Fusion when he crossed the double center line into the southbound lane, struck the Rutland cruiser and careened off into the woods.
The Paxton Police cruiser — in an attempt to avoid the crash — veered off and rolled over.
The crash occurred around 6:35 PM in the vicinity of 223 and 225 Barre Paxton Road [Rt.122].
The crash remains under investigation by the Rutland Police, the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and the State police Detectives assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office.
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