Route 1

Woman Seriously Injured in Crash at Peabody Car Wash

A North Andover woman, 39, was flown by medical helicopter to a Boston hospital with serious injuries after being struck by a pickup truck while washing her car at the Turnpike Car Wash on Route 1 in Peabody

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A 39-year-old woman was seriously injured Thursday afternoon when she was struck by a pickup truck while at a car wash on Route 1 in Peabody, Massachusetts, state police said.

According to state police, the North Andover woman sustained serious lower body injuries and was flown to a Boston hospital after being hit around 2:36 p.m. at the Turnpike Car Wash.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation and state police confirmed the highway was being closed temporarily in both directions for the medical helicopter to be brought in. The ramp from Interstate 95 south to Route 1 south was also closed, transportation officials said. The shutdown lasted about an hour.

According to police, the exact circumstances of the crash are not known at this time, but police said the Chevy Silverado driver -- identified as an 82-year-old man from Danvers -- was issued a criminal summons for negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

The car wash owner tells NBC10 Boston that the woman was washing her car when all of a sudden the truck lurched forward, pinning the woman for a time between her car and the truck. According to the owner, the truck driver then panicked and threw his vehicle into reverse, flying some 100 yards back where he crashed into a tree behind the car wash.

Police say the victim was at the car wash with a 53-year-old man from Lynn, who was behind the wheel of the Audi A4.

Aerial footage showed multiple police and fire vehicles at the scene, which remained active later Thursday. State police troopers, Peabody EMS, crash reconstruction and crime scene services were all assisting. An investigation is ongoing.

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