Victim in Peabody Crash Dies

At 6:44 a.m. yesterday, troopers from the State Police Barracks in Danvers responded to a three-vehicle crash on Route 128 northbound near Exit 26 (Lowell Street) in Peabody. One of the victims in that crash later died from his injuries.

Preliminary investigation by Trooper Stevie G. Browning indicates that three vehicles were involved in a series of rear-end crashes. Wallace A. Arnott, 56, of Haverhill, who was operating a 2005 Chevrolet AVEO hatchback, suffered serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to Salem Hospital, and then flown by medical helicopter to Massachusetts General Hospital. Mr. Arnott was pronounced deceased at the hospital later yesterday.

The second vehicle involved in the crash was a 1996 Cherokee operated by Kenneth E. Weeden, 52, of Peabody, who was transported to Salem Hospital with serious injuries. The third vehicle was a 2002 Chevrolet Venture, operated by Rita Tavarez, 42, of Chelsea, who was not injured.

No charges have been filed at this point. The investigation into the facts and circumstances of the crashes, including the exact sequence of events, remains ongoing by Troop A of the Massachusetts State Police, with the assistance of the State Police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section. Also assisting at the scene was the Peabody Fire Department and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's Highway Division.

All lanes, north and southbound were cleared at 10:30 a.m.

No further information is available at this time. Please do not call the barracks directly.