SAUGUS — Chief Michael Ricciardelli reports that the Saugus Police Department arrested a man on several charges this morning following a crash along Route 1 in which the driver allegedly was traveling the wrong way.
JONATHAN SEVOICH, AGE 32, OF SAUGUS, was arrested and charged with:
- Operating Under the Influence of Drugs (Second Offense)
- Possession of a Class A Substance (suspected heroin)
- Failure to Stop for Police
- Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle
- Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle
- Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Crash
- Driving Down a Restricted Way
On Thursday, March 17, at approximately 8:54 p.m., dispatchers informed patrolling Saugus Police officers that a vehicle was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of Route 1 in the area of York Ford. While en route, officers were informed that the vehicle subsequently entered the parking lot of York Ford, where it struck multiple parked vehicles.
Responding officers located a gray Hyundai Elantra with its airbags deployed and heavy front-end damage. The first officer on scene located SEVOICH in the driver’s seat and after checking on his wellbeing ordered him to exit the vehicle.
SEVOICH allegedly refused and attempted to move the vehicle, prompting the officer to remove him from the car. Once out of the vehicle, SEVOICH allegedly attempted to flee on foot but was restrained and eventually taken into custody by additional responding officers. SEVOICH sustained lacerations and abrasions to his chin and knees as a result of the struggle to evade arrest.
During a subsequent on-scene investigation, SEVOICH showed signs of impairment, and officers learned that another motorist who remained on scene observed SEVOICH enter Route 1 from the Route 99 split traveling the wrong way, then turn into York Ford and crash into five vehicles.
SEVOICH was transported to an area hospital and during a subsequent inventory of his vehicle, officers located drug paraphernalia and a brown powdery substance suspected to be heroin.
SEVOICH faces multiple charges as a result of the incident, and also was wanted on several outstanding warrants. He is expected to be arraigned today in Lynn District Court.
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