SAUGUS — A Lynn man who was allegedly speeding through the rotary in Saugus Center when he crashed his car into the town’s’ Christmas tree was arrested over the weekend.
Jerry Martinez, 31, was charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle, a marked lanes violation, driving at a speed greater than reasonable, and failure to yield in a rotary, said Interim Saugus Police Chief Ronald Giorgetti, who added that he may still be charged with additional violations.
The crash occurred just before 2:30 a.m. Sunday, with the car knocking over a large tree at the center of the rotary. Giorgetti said he is unsure if it is the same tree used for Christmas festivities during the holiday season, but a press release from Saugus Police Patrol Officer’s Union identifies it as such.
“The vehicle struck the Saugus Christmas Tree, causing it to come crashing down,” according to the statement. “It was all hands on deck as Saugus Police, Saugus Firefighters, Armstrong Ambulance and McGarvey Towing sprang into action to free the male operator while Saugus Department of Public Works removed the tree from the roadway.”
Giorgetti said the large tree fell, partially on Martinez’s car. Martinez was brought to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston for evaluation.
The accident was a single-vehicle crash and nobody else was in the car or injured, said Giorgetti. It remains under investigation by Saugus Police.
