Massachusetts State Trooper Kevin Trainor, 30, was killed in a head-on collision with a wrong-way driver on Route 1 in Lynnfield on May 6. The driver, Hernan Marrero, 50, also died in the crash. According to a report from the Essex County District Attorney's office, Marrero had been served nine alcoholic drinks at Tribu Mexican Kitchen and Bar in Saugus before driving approximately 1.8 miles in the wrong direction on Route 1.
Marrero's blood alcohol concentration was 0.192, more than twice the legal limit, at the time of the crash, which occurred around 2:04 a.m. Trainor had finished a public safety detail shortly before the collision. Investigators determined that Marrero's actions, not vehicle defects or signage issues, caused the crash. The area where Marrero entered the highway in the wrong direction was marked with clear "WRONG WAY," "DO NOT ENTER," and "ONE WAY" signs.
The Massachusetts Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission has issued a notice to Tribu alleging multiple civil violations, including serving drinks after hours and serving complimentary drinks. A hearing is scheduled for July 28. The district attorney's office stated that criminal charges against the establishment are not sustainable under applicable legal standards.
Authorities noted that Marrero had visited another restaurant earlier in the evening, where he received one complimentary drink. He arrived at Tribu at 9:15 p.m. and was served his first margarita five minutes later. He posted a social media photo captioned "Second stop!!!" during his time at Tribu. Between 9:20 p.m. and 12:53 a.m., he consumed nine alcoholic drinks at the bar.
Marrero left the restaurant's parking lot at 1:56 a.m. and proceeded to drive north on Route 1 for about 2.3 miles before attempting to reverse direction onto Route 1 south via a jughandle. Instead of entering the southbound lanes, he grazed a guardrail, ran a red light, and made a sharp left turn, re-entering the northbound lanes while traveling south. A truck driver observed Marrero's Jeep and called 911, and a warning was broadcast to other troopers.
Trainor, whose cruiser radio was on and tuned to the warning channel, was the first to encounter Marrero's vehicle. The vehicles collided head-on at estimated speeds between 56.4 and 68.6 mph. Crash reconstructionists concluded that Marrero's wrong-way driving was the sole cause of the crash, resulting in his own death and the line-of-duty death of Trooper Trainor.
District Attorney Paul Tucker commended Trainor for his "exemplary courage and self-sacrifice," stating that his actions likely prevented a greater tragedy. Governor Maura Healey described Trainor as "the best of Massachusetts," highlighting his service and character. Trainor was a graduate of Salem State and the State Police Academy, serving as a son, brother, fiancé, coach, and mentor.