Peabody car crash was drug related, police say

PEABODY-The one-car accident on Forest Street that required a MedFlight helicopter to transport the driver to a Boston hospital Tuesday night was drug and alcohol-related, police said.Police and paramedics responded to 14 Forest St. at about 9:45 p.m. after a Nissan Infinity struck a telephone pole, bounced across the road and ended up in someone’s yard.The driver, Brian Freitas, 31, of 9 Hathaway Ave., Peabody, suffered a serious head injury and was taken to Mass. General Hospital by helicopter, which had to take off from the parking lot of a Centennial Drive business, police said. Freitas was listed in good condition on Wednesday night.At the time of the crash, police weren’t sure if icy conditions played a role. However, police have now charged Freitas with driving under the influence of drugs, driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless operation of a vehicle, speeding and a marked lanes violation.A passenger in the vehicle, Ryan Jordan of Medford, was transported to Salem Hospital with less serious injuries.A State Police reconstruction team also responded to the accident.