Driver Charged in Fatal Wrong-Way Crash that Killed Massachusetts Police Sergeant
Keoma Duarte has been charged with causing the death of police sergeant Jeremy Cole in a wrong-way crash on I-95. Cole was a dedicated officer and family man, remembered fondly by the community.
Keoma Duarte of New Bedford, Massachusetts, faces charges in connection with the death of Jeremy Cole, a police sergeant at Endicott College, following a wrong-way crash on I-95 in Newbury.
Jeremy Cole was driving home to New Hampshire after his evening shift on Thanksgiving morning when he was killed in a head-on collision.
Duarte, 40, was also injured in the crash and was arraigned virtually on December 3 at Newburyport District Court. He is charged with two counts of motor vehicle homicide, one count of operating under the influence, and one count of manslaughter, along with civil motor vehicle infractions.
According to prosecutors, Duarte is scheduled for arraignment in Salem Superior Court on February 28.
Cole, a 49-year-old husband and father of four, is remembered as a beloved mentor and protector within the campus community. Students remarked on his impact, highlighting his involvement in teaching defense courses for women and his humorous personality.
Endicott College President Steven DiSalvo announced plans to cover the tuition for Cole's children when they eventually attend college.
Prosecutors stated that Duarte’s Tesla Model Y was traveling south in a northbound lane of I-95 when it collided with Cole's Chevrolet Trailblazer. Cole was pronounced dead at the scene, while Duarte was transported to a hospital.
Duarte was held on $500,000 bail, with prosecutors noting that he denied being involved in the crash and had a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit.
