Two prominent members of the Waltham community lost their lives in a tragic car crash on Wednesday evening. Officer Paul Tracey, a 28-year veteran of the Waltham Police Department, and a 36-year-old National Grid utility worker from Cambridge were killed in the accident, which occurred just after 4 p.m. on Totten Pond Road in Waltham, Massachusetts.
The suspect, identified as Peter Simon, 54, of Woodsville, New Hampshire, was driving a pickup truck eastbound on Totten Pond Road when he allegedly attempted to make a U-turn across the road, colliding with a Jeep and then striking Tracey and the utility worker. Simon’s truck then struck two other vehicles before he fled the scene on foot.
After fleeing the scene, Simon allegedly brandished a knife and stole another Waltham police officer’s vehicle before ultimately being apprehended and arrested by another Waltham police officer. He has been charged with two counts of manslaughter and armed robbery. The suspect is expected to appear in Waltham District Court on Thursday.
The tragic crash also left two other National Grid employees injured, with one worker taken to a Boston area hospital for treatment. The community has been left in a state of shock and mourning following the devastating loss of the two individuals.
In a statement, Waltham Police Chief Kevin O’Connell praised Officer Paul Tracey, calling him a “compassionate police officer” who always looked out for the underdog and was a friend to all. The Waltham Police Department extends its deepest condolences to the Tracey family and the National Grid worker’s family and friends.
The impact of the crash reverberated through the community, with witnesses describing the scene as graphic and devastating. As a tribute to Officer Tracey, a procession was held late Wednesday night outside the medical examiner’s office in downtown Boston, with police saluting as the procession passed by.
The tragic loss of Officer Paul Tracey and the National Grid utility worker has left a profound impact on the Waltham community and beyond, as friends, family, and community members come together to mourn their untimely deaths.