CHICOPEE — Police received multiple reports of the wrong-way driver around 4 a.m. Troopers attempted to stop the vehicle by forming a rolling roadblock with emergency lights activated near Exit 9. The wrong-way vehicle swerved, struck a trooper's cruiser, and then collided head-on with another passenger vehicle.

Jose Santiago, 28, of Holyoke, was arrested in connection with the incident. Santiago was transported to a hospital for evaluation of minor injuries. A trooper observed Santiago staggering, speaking with slurred speech, and having glassy eyes after the crash.

A breathalyzer test administered to Santiago yielded a reading of 0.19%, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08% under Massachusetts law. Police recovered three unopened Corona beers from Santiago's vehicle.

Santiago is charged with operating under the influence of alcohol and negligent operation of a motor vehicle. Court documents state Santiago is also charged with speeding, window obstruction, and a marked-lane violation. Jose G. Santiago, Jr. is scheduled for arraignment in Chicopee District Court on Monday.

"The incident we witnessed this morning in Chicopee is another reminder of the serious danger created when someone makes the reckless decision to drive while impaired," Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey Noble said. "I want to commend the bravery and quick actions of our Troopers, whose efforts to stop this wrong-way driver likely prevented further injuries and potentially saved lives."

This crash is the third incident since early May 2026 in which a Massachusetts State Police trooper was struck by a wrong-way driver. Trooper Kevin Trainor was killed in a wrong-way crash on Route 1 in early May 2026, and two other drivers were killed in wrong-way crashes in Massachusetts in June 2026. A separate wrong-way crash occurred on Interstate 95 in Woburn on July 6, 2026, the Monday prior to the Chicopee incident.

In response to the rising incidents, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation expects to install 430 thermal detection camera systems by the end of 2027 to identify wrong-way drivers and trigger warning systems. These systems began deployment following Trooper Trainor's death as part of a broader effort to prevent similar tragedies.