Beverly man held without bail after alleged drunk driving accidents

A Lynn District Court judge ordered a Beverly man held without bail yesterday after he was arraigned on charges of hitting three cars while under the influence of alcohol, injuring three people.

Mateusz Chruscicki, 34, pleaded not guilty to several charges stemming from his Wednesday night arrest, according to a statement from Steve O'Connell, a spokesman for Essex County District Attorney's office.

According to Essex County Assistant District Attorney Geoffrey Wood, police received several 9-1-1 calls beginning at about 5:40 Wednesday evening that a red Ford 350 pickup truck hit several vehicles while driving southbound on Route 1, the statement said.

When police arrived on scene in Lynnfield, they found two victims in a gray Toyota Camry who suffered injuries from the crash, according to the statement.

After both victims were transferred to Lynn Union Hospital on backboards, the female passenger was released after treatment. The male, who suffered serious chest injuries, was transferred to Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, the statement said.

Police then attended to a third victim across the Saugus line, who drove a Toyota Corolla that Chruscicki allegedly struck with enough force to slam him in the left lane's guard rail, spinning his car twice, the statement said. The male victim told police he would seek medical treatment on his own, according to the statement.

Chruscicki also allegedly hit a Chevy sedan, the statement said. The woman driving that car was not hurt, according to the statement.

Immediately after hitting the three cars, Chruscicki crashed his truck into a telephone pole, totaling the vehicle, the statement said. He was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston where police arrested him at about 7 p.m., the statement said.

Police charged Chruscicki with operating under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, two counts of leaving the scene of a property damage accident, and a marked lane violation, the statement said.

Chruscicki is scheduled to return to court next Thursday for a dangerousness hearing, according to the statement.

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