Wrong-Way Driver Had 9 Drinks Before Fatal Crash That Killed Salem Trooper Trainor: Essex DA Report

SALEM, MA — The wrong-way driver who crashed into State Trooper Kevin Trainor's cruiser, killing both men, was served up to nine drinks at a Saugus restaurant and had a blood-alcohol level more than two times the legal limit before entering the Route 1 northbound lanes going southbound shortly after 2 a.m. on May 6, according to a final investigation report of the Essex District Attorney's Office released on Wednesday.

The DA Office's report chronicles a harrowing timeline between when Hernan Ramon Marrero, of Roslindale, left the Saugus restaurant at 1:56 p.m. and fatally crashed into Trooper Trainor's cruiser about eight minutes later.

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"Trooper Trainor's ultimate sacrifice will continue to be felt deeply by the community and those he served with, including prosecutors and staff from my office," Essex DA Paul Tucker said of the Salem native and Salem State graduate. "This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the profound risks our first responders face every day in order to preserve peace and maintain public safety."

The Essex DA's Office said owners of Tribu Mexican Kitchen and Bar of Saugus will appear before the state Alcohol Commission later this month after the investigation determined that Marrero arrived at Tribu at 9:15 p.m. on May 5 and was served nine drinks over the next four hours.

"The ABCC has issued notice to Tribu alleging multiple violations of civil regulations for serving alcoholic drinks after hours and for serving free drinks," the Essex DA's Office report said.

The hearing is scheduled for July 28.

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According to the report, Marrero then left the Tribu parking lot in his Jeep at 1:56 and headed north on Route 1 for about 2.3 miles.

Five minutes later, the report said Mass Department of Transportation camera footage showed the Jeep enter the "jughandle" in Peabody, graze a guardrail on the right, run a red light, and then take a left and re-enter the northbound lane traveling southbound.

A truck driver and state trooper saw Marrero traveling in the wrong direction at 2:02 when 911 was called.

Tpr. Trainor, who just finished a detail in Lynnfield and was headed home, responded to the 911 call and was the first to encounter the Jeep — colliding head-on at 2:04 a.m.

The report said Trainor's cruiser was traveling between 60 and 68.6 mph at the time of the crash, while the Jeep was traveling between 56.4 and 61.4 mph.

"Toxicological testing showed Marrero's Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) to be 0.192 g/100 mL, over twice the legal limit," the report said.

Marrero was pronounced dead at the scene. Trainor was extracted from his cruiser and rushed to a Boston hospital, where he also died.

"The reconstructionist determined that Marrero's wrong-way driving was not caused by any defect, malfunction, or condition of the Jeep or any defect or condition of the posted signage," the report said. "Rather, the collision was caused by the actions of Mr. Marrero and, furthermore, that his wrong-way operation of the Jeep ultimately resulted in his own death as well as the line-of-duty death of Trooper Kevin Trainor.

"The available evidence is consistent with early reports that in responding to this highly dangerous situation, Trooper Kevin T. Trainor demonstrated exemplary courage and self-sacrifice.

"His willingness to put his own life at risk to serve and protect the citizens of the Commonwealth likely prevented an even greater tragedy."