LOWELL, Mass. — A devastating wrong-way crash on the Lowell Connector early Wednesday morning has left one person dead and another critically injured, in what authorities are calling a case of impaired driving. According to the Massachusetts State Police, the suspected driver, 29-year-old Derek Witzenman of Woburn, was intoxicated when the collision occurred just after 1 a.m.
Investigators say Witzenman was driving the wrong way on the highway when his vehicle slammed head-on into another car traveling in the proper direction. The driver of that vehicle, whose identity has not yet been released, was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in the same car suffered life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to Lahey Hospital in Burlington, where they remain in critical condition.
Eyewitnesses described the terrifying scene moments before the impact. One witness, Eric Courtemanche, told WBZ-TV that Witzenman appeared to be speeding at 80 to 90 miles per hour and “looked hammered” as he drove the wrong way. “I saw headlights coming toward me,” Courtemanche recalled. “When I came around the corner, I lost vision but saw the smoke and said, ‘Oh my God, he hit him.’ So I called 911.”
When officers arrived, they observed that Witzenman had bloodshot, glassy eyes and a strong odor of alcohol. Prosecutors said he denied drinking but admitted to smoking marijuana earlier in the night. Due to his injuries, police did not administer a field sobriety test. He was later arraigned remotely from his hospital bed through Lowell District Court.
Witzenman now faces multiple charges, including operating under the influence of liquor and negligent operation of a motor vehicle. A judge set his bail at $5,000 and ordered that he not drive, consume alcohol, or use drugs, and that he submit to random substance screenings while awaiting further court proceedings.
The Lowell Connector remained closed for nearly three hours as investigators processed the crash site and cleared the wreckage. The fatal collision has left a family shattered and the community heartbroken, renewing urgent calls for responsible driving and stricter enforcement against impaired motorists.
