State trooper stabbed following multi-state police pursuit

NEW SALEM, Mass. (AP) — A Massachusetts state trooper was recovering Saturday in a state hospital from multiple stab wounds following a multi-state pursuit of a driver involved in a New Hampshire crash.

Police said that driver, an 18-year-old New Hampshire man, was shot during the incident and also taken to the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester for treatment. Both men underwent surgery Friday evening and were listed in stable condition.

“Evidence suggests our trooper was trying to resolve this pursuit and was attacked by this suspect,” Massachusetts State Police spokesman David Procopio told WCVB-TV in Boston.

According to a preliminary police investigation, the pursuit began Friday around noon following reports of a multi-vehicle accident in Walpole, New Hampshire. Police said the suspect allegedly carjacked a Toyota Camry that was involved in the crash and fled to Vermont, before continuing south on Interstate 91 into Massachusetts. Massachusetts state police and local patrols spotted the Camry and pursued it until the vehicle crashed at an intersection in New Salem, Massachusetts. Police said the suspect then attacked the 47-year-old trooper, a 12-year veteran of the force.

Hannah Hunting told WCVB-TV that the damaged Camry had come to a stop in her yard and the driver got out and approached a police cruiser, opened the door and appeared to begin hitting the trooper repeatedly. She said when the state trooper, who was visibly bleeding, got out of the cruiser, the suspect jumped in and shut the door. Hunting said another trooper pulled up and fired into the cruiser.

State Police have not released the name of the suspect or the injured trooper, who is assigned to the Athol Barracks and his married with children.