State Police Respond to a Crash involving a State Police Cruiser on Route 128 North in Dedham

Today at about 7:05 p.m. State Police personnel responded to a crash on Route 128 North, south of Route 135, in Dedham. The crash involved a State Police cruiser and a trooper who was stopping for a disabled motor vehicle on the right side of the roadway. The trooper had activated his cruiser's blue lights prior to being struck by a Toyota Corolla while he was attempting to stop for the disabled motor vehicle.

The preliminary investigation by Sergeant James Jones indicates the following: Trooper Eric Chin was traveling north on Route 128 in Dedham when he observed a disabled Oldsmobile on the far right side of the roadway. Trooper Chin then activated his cruiser's blue lights and began gradually traveling right across the roadway so he could assist the disabled motor vehicle and its driver. Trooper Chin's cruiser was struck from behind while he was attempting to do this. The vehicle that struck his cruiser was a Toyota Corolla. This collision caused Trooper Chin's cruiser to spin about 180 degrees. It also caused the Toyota Corolla's front end to come to final rest on the front hood of the cruiser. Both Trooper Chin and the female driver of the Toyota Corolla, Verna R. Rizzi, age 69 of Dedham, were transported by ambulance to Glover Hospital in Needham for treatment of minor injuries.

Members of the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, the State Police Crime Scene Services Section, the Massachusetts Highway Department, the Needham Fire Department and the Dedham Fire Department assisted troopers at the scene.

The cause of this crash remains under investigation. No further information is currently available. Please do not contact the barracks directly.

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