August 10, 2019
For Immediate Release
Contact: Tim Connolly 508-688-5565
RUTLAND — A Worcester man who drove away from a police stop in Paxton last night was killed when his car crossed the double middle line on Route 122 and struck a Rutland K9 Police cruiser head-on, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.
Kevin P. St. Peters, 63, of Worcester was pronounced dead at the scene.
Rutland Police Officer Matthew Fenuccio and Paxton Police Officer Edward Santiago both sustained non-life threatening injuries. “Cooney,” the police dog was not injured.
Shortly after 6 p.m. several cell phone callers had reported to Paxton Police that a Ford Fusion was operating erratically in town. Paxton police located the car and followed it north on Route 122. Rutland Police had been alerted and the Rutland K9 cruiser was responding.
It is reported that the Ford Fusion, driven by Mr. St. Peters, crossed the double center line into the southbound lane, struck the Rutland cruiser and careened off into the woods. The Paxton cruiser in an attempt to avoid the crash veered off and rolled over. The crash occurred at about 6:35 p.m. near 223 and 225 Barre Paxton Road (Route 122).
The crash is under investigation by the Rutland Police, the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and the State police Detectives assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office.