A newly released report from the Essex County district attorney says the man who drove the wrong way on Route 1 and collided with a Massachusetts State Police cruiser early May 6 had been served multiple alcoholic beverages at a Saugus restaurant in the hours before the fatal crash that killed Trooper Kevin Trainor.
Sequence of events and alcohol service
The report identifies the wrong-way driver as 50-year-old Hernan Marrero of Roslindale, who died when his Jeep struck Trainor’s cruiser in Lynnfield shortly after 2 a.m. The trooper, 30, was returning home after his shift when he tried to stop a vehicle traveling south in the northbound lanes, investigators said.
According to the district attorney, Marrero began his evening at a Waltham restaurant where he received a complimentary drink and closed out that tab at 7:42 p.m. He later stopped at Tribu Mexican Kitchen and Bar on Route 1 in Saugus.
"He made a social media posting of a margarita at Tribu with the caption 'Second stop!!!'"
Essex County officials say between 9:20 p.m. and 12:53 a.m. Marrero was served a total of nine alcoholic drinks at Tribu. Toxicology after the crash showed Marrero's blood alcohol concentration at 0.192, about twice the legal driving limit in Massachusetts.
Regulatory and legal follow-up
The report notes that the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission has issued a notice to Tribu alleging several civil regulation violations, including serving alcohol after hours and providing complimentary drinks. A hearing before the commission is scheduled for July 28.
Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker said he reviewed potential criminal charges related to the establishment’s service and concluded they were not sustainable. The commission’s action is civil regulatory in nature. The restaurant has been contacted for comment, the report says.
Timeline
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 7:42 p.m. | Closed out tab at Waltham restaurant (complimentary drink received) |
| 9:20 p.m. – 12:53 a.m. | Served a total of nine drinks at Tribu Mexican Kitchen and Bar, Saugus |
| 1:56 a.m. | Left Tribu parking lot and drove north on Route 1 |
| Shortly after 2:00 a.m. | Collision with Massachusetts State Police cruiser in Lynnfield; Marrero and Trooper Trainor died |
Public safety and local stakes
The crash has prompted scrutiny on three fronts: enforcement of liquor licensing rules, questions about late-night service practices at Route 1 establishments and traffic-safety concerns at the jug-handle and wrong-way entry points. MassDOT camera footage reviewed by investigators reportedly shows the Jeep entering the jug-handle and then traveling the wrong way, striking a guardrail before colliding with the trooper’s cruiser.
For Essex County and the state, the case highlights how post-shift encounters between law enforcement and impaired drivers can produce deadly outcomes and how regulatory remedies differ from criminal prosecution when establishments face civil allegations.
- Regulatory hearing on alleged violations at Tribu scheduled for July 28.
- Marrero's blood alcohol concentration measured at 0.192 after the crash.
- District attorney concluded criminal charges against the restaurant were not sustainable.
Officials continue to review the facts surrounding the crash; the ABCC proceeding will address whether the bar violated state regulations regarding hours and free drinks.
