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The community of Waltham, Massachusetts, is mourning the loss of a police officer and a utility worker after they were both killed in a hit-and-run crash on December 6.
Peter Simon, 54, of Woodsville, New Hampshire, is alleged to have driven a stolen Ford F-150 pickup truck, which he used to strike Waltham Police Officer Paul Tracey, a 28-year veteran, and Roderick Jackson, a 36-year-old National Grid worker, at a work site in Waltham, located roughly 10 miles west of Boston.
Authorities said the sequence of events started when Simon attempted a U-turn, striking a vehicle in the process. He continued driving for about a quarter of a mile before colliding with Tracey and Jackson.
Both men lost their lives in the crash, while two other National Grid employees sustained injuries.
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan provided details on the incident.
“Clearly what happened … is an unimaginable tragedy. These two men were doing their job at 4 o’clock in the afternoon when they were killed, and crashes like this happen far too often,” Ryan said.
After the initial crash, Simon reportedly struck multiple other vehicles before abandoning the pickup truck and fleeing on foot.
Simon then encountered another Waltham police officer at whom he allegedly brandished a knife before stealing their patrol cruiser.
A high-speed chase ensued, leading to a second crash. Simon was ultimately arrested after a brief foot pursuit.
Waltham Police Chief Kevin O’Connell said the department is grieving the loss of Tracey, stating that “He was a compassionate police officer, and always looked out for the underdog. He was an amazing husband, a loving father and a friend to all.”
At Simon’s arraignment, additional charges were introduced, including failure to stop for police, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, larceny of a motor vehicle, armed robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident after causing personal injury and death.
Simon, who sported visible injuries on his face, was held without bail, pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for December 14.
During the court proceedings, it was revealed that Simon had a long criminal past, with prior incidents in 2009 and 2016, including a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity in the former case.
The recent tragedy has prompted scrutiny of Simon’s history and the circumstances surrounding his actions on that fateful afternoon.
The victims were remembered by their colleagues and loved ones.
“We’re here today in solidarity not only with my fallen officer but with National Grid workers too. Unfortunately, what happened yesterday, nobody saw coming,” O’Connell said.
“He meant everything to me, he meant everything to everybody,” Jackson’s brother said. “The city of Cambridge knows who he is. When everybody forgets about him, we will remember. This is a nightmare that I’m living in. I woke up — what just happened? You get what I’m saying? I can’t even explain this story to anybody.”
Police officers, firefighters and EMTs also honored Tracey in a procession from the hospital in Burlington to the Medical Examiner’s Office, where they gave the fallen officer a farewell salute.
As the community mourns the loss of two dedicated individuals, the investigation into the incident continues, and the legal proceedings against Simon will unfold in the coming weeks.
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