Trooper Struck, Injured on Route 128, State Police Seeking Car with Missing Side Mirror

A Massachusetts state trooper was struck and injured by a passing car early this morning while out of his cruiser on a motor vehicle stop on Route 128 in Peabody. State Police are looking for the gray or silver sedan that hit the trooper. The sedan lost its passenger side mirror when it struck Trooper Sean McGarry. State Police are asking for the public's help in finding the car.

The incident began a few minutes before 2 a.m., when Trooper Joseph Keefe pulled over a 2004 Infiniti G35 that had suddenly swerved into the breakdown lane on the southbound side of Route 128 in Peabody, shortly before the Route 1 exit. When questioned, the driver of the Infiniti did not provide valid identification and allegedly gave the trooper a false name. Troopers later located the man's identification in the car and determined him to be FRANK J. IMBRUGLIA, 25, of East Boston. Troopers determined that IMBRUGLIA's license was suspended and that he was the subject of three outstanding warrants. IMBRUGLIA was charged on the warrants, as well as with new charges of providing a false name to police, operating after suspension, and committing a marked lanes violation.

While troopers were examining IMBRUGLIA's car in the breakdown lane, Trooper McGarry, who had backed up Trooper Keefe, was standing outside the driver's side of the Infiniti as he performed his duty. The blue lights of both troopers' cruisers were flashing. Suddenly and without warning, a car driving on the highway sideswiped Trooper McGarry, who tried to jump out of the way. The passing car caused injuries to the trooper's leg and narrowly missed a more direct hit that would have caused more serious injuries. The car did not stop and fled onto Route 1 via the Route 1 Exit. Troopers searched for it but could not find it.

Trooper McGarry was transported by ambulance to Lynn Union Hospital, where he was treated and released later this morning. He will be on injured leave while his injuries are further evaluated.

The car that struck Trooper McGarry is described as a gray or silver sedan that is missing its passenger side mirror. The investigation into the whereabouts of that car, as well as the identity of its driver, is ongoing. The Massachusetts State Police ask that anyone who sees a car matching this description, or anyone who has any information about this crash, please call the State Police Danvers Barracks at (978) 538-6161.