On May 6, Massachusetts State Trooper Kevin Trainor heroically stopped a wrong-way driver with his cruiser on Route 1 in Lynnfield. Both the driver and Trainor died from injuries sustained in the crash. The Essex County District Attorney’s Office has since concluded its investigation of the fatal collision. 

Hernan Ramon Marrero, 50, of Roslindale, was driving southbound in the northbound lane when he collided head-on with Trainor. Marrero was pronounced dead on-scene, while Trainor was pronounced dead at Massachusetts General Hospital the same day. 

The toxicology reports found that Marrero’s Blood Alcohol Concentration was 0.192 g/100 mL, which is over twice the legal limit, 0.08. Also found in his blood were Bupropion (Wellbutrin) 30 ng/mL, an antidepressant and smoking inhibitor, and Hydroxybupropion 100 ng/mL, a metabolite of that drug.

The investigation found that Marrero began his night on Tuesday, May 5, at a restaurant in Waltham, where he ate and received a complimentary drink. He then drove 35 minutes to Tribu Mexican Kitchen and Bar in Saugus.

Tribu’s website lists its operating hours between 4 and 10 p.m. on the night of the accident. Credit card records, social media posts, and citizen witnesses were used in the investigation to determine that Marrero was served nine drinks between the hours of 9:20 p.m. on May 5 and 12:53 a.m. on May 6.

At a February 2025 meeting of the Board of Selectmen, Town Manager Scott Crabtree noted that it was common practice in Saugus to require establishments to have a last call one hour prior to closing, with all drinks cleared half an hour prior to closing.

Crabtree’s comments were made during a public hearing on the Victualer’s License, Entertainment License, and All Alcohol liquor license, which was transferred from Oye’s Restaurant and Bar. During that hearing, the board shared some concerns about the restaurant’s operating plan.

Selectman Jeff Cicolini said that he was not comfortable with the hours of operation that the proprietors of Tribu were asking for the license, between 11 and 1 a.m. daily, especially with live entertainment. 

“For me to put our public safety people on the hook, and say that I put my stamp of approval on something. We don’t know you from Adam,” he said.

Cicolini also showed concerns with Paul Mongui, the manager of the business, splitting his time between Saugus and another restaurant in Somerville. The liquor license would require Mongui to be on site in Saugus for a minimum of 40 hours a week to ensure that the restaurant practiced safe and lawful alcohol service and consumption. 

Attorney Patrick MacDonald, who was representing the restaurant, assured the board that even though Mongui would be managing two places, it “does not mean that either one is ever going to be without the benefit of an experienced and qualified person,” who would be accountable for the operations of the business. 

Selectman Michael Serino commented on past issues the town had with nightclubs, as the board shared concerns about the group’s plans to host live music and DJs throughout their operating hours. 

“I am concerned about the entertainment license … When I was on the board 15 years ago, we went through hell with these liquor license establishments. The Palace, we had to roll their hours back to 11:30 p.m. for their liquor … Stabbing, shooting, someone got killed there … I’m very cautious about what I’m going to support in this town,” Serino said. 

Cicolini noted that a nightclub environment leads to more drinking, problems, and risks for public safety personnel. 

The board agreed that it did not wish for a nightclub establishment. After a brief discussion, conditions on the drinking and entertainment hours were agreed upon, and the board voted.

With the stipulation that the last call should be an hour before the end of licensing hours and another requiring Mongui to obtain a letter from the city of Somerville affirming that his commitment to be at the Saugus restaurant for 40 hours a week would not interfere with his duties at the other restaurant, the board approved an All Alcohol Liquor license with hours of operation defined as 11-12 a.m. Monday-Wednesday, 11-1 a.m. Thursday-Saturday, and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on Sunday. 

According to the District Attorney’s report, “The ABCC has issued notice to Tribu alleging multiple violations of civil regulations for serving alcoholic drinks after hours and for serving free drinks. A hearing in that matter is scheduled for July 28, 2026,”  although the DA’s office concluded that criminal charges were not sustainable. 

Video footage shows Marrero left the Tribu parking lot at 1:56 a.m. Wednesday morning. He is seen heading north on Route 1 in the northbound lane, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

At 2:01 a.m., Marrero entered the jughandle by Santarpios Pizza to reverse directions. MassDOT cameras recorded Marrero’s Jeep entering the jughandle, grazing a guardrail, running a red light, taking a too-sharp left turn, and re-entering the northbound lane heading south.

A truck driver called 911 after seeing Marrero’s Jeep heading south in the northbound lane. Trainor, who was on his way home after a public safety detail on the Lynnway, had his radio set to the channel on which communications were broadcast about the wrong-way driver.

He was the first cruiser to encounter the Jeep, colliding head-on. 

The Essex County State Police Detective Unit, with assistance from the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis & Reconstruction Section (C.A.R.S.), and others, conducted an investigation of the crash. C.A.R.S. used vehicle inspection and analyses, Airbag Control Module data, laser scanning, Event Data Recorders of both vehicles, a Global Navigation Satellite System survey, scene photographs, and collected video from surveillance, Flock, ALPR, and Dash cam. 

During the investigation, Ted Doyle, a safety inspector employed by MassDOT, provided C.A.R.S. detectives with photographs taken the morning of the crash showing the signage at the intersection where Marrero entered Route 1 in the wrong direction. In the report, Sgt. David C. Bergeron said the photographs contained warnings such as “WRONG WAY,” “DO NOT ENTER,” and “ONE WAY,” with the one-way arrow pointing in the northbound direction.

The results of the investigation led Bergeron to conclude that the collision was caused by the wrong-way operation of the Jeep. Furthermore, Bergeron said that the crash was not caused by any defects with the cars themselves. 

“I do not believe that the wrong-way operation of the Jeep was caused by any defect or condition related to the posted signage,” Bergeron wrote in his report. “As a result, I believe the collision was caused by the actions of Mr. Marrero and, furthermore, that his wrong-way operation of the Jeep ultimately resulted in his own death as well as the line-of-duty death of Trooper Kevin Trainor.”

In a statement summarizing the investigation of the crash, Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker remembered Trainor for his courageous act in the line of duty. 

“Trooper Trainor’s ultimate sacrifice will continue to be felt deeply by the community and those he served with, including prosecutors and staff from my office,” Tucker said. “This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the profound risks our first responders face every day in order to preserve peace and maintain public safety.”