In the early hours of Wednesday morning, tragedy struck on the Lowell Connector when a 29‑year‑old Woburn man, identified as Derek Witzenman, drove the wrong way and collided head‑on with another vehicle. The incident, which occurred at about 1:15 a.m. near Exit 5A, claimed the driver of the other car and left a passenger critically injured.
According to the Massachusetts State Police (MSP), Witzenman was traveling outbound in an inbound lane when his vehicle met the oncoming car. Troopers say he had glassy, bloodshot eyes and was slurring his words when first responders arrived. He allegedly admitted to smoking marijuana earlier in the night, and though he denied drinking, troopers observed a strong smell of alcohol. No field sobriety tests were administered due to his injuries.
The impact was immediate and devastating. One person—who remains unidentified—was pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in that same car was airlifted via Medflight to a Boston‑area hospital, after initially being taken to Lowell General. They remain in critical condition. Witzenman also sustained injuries and was hospitalized.
Witnesses at the scene described a horrifying chain of events. One bystander, Eric Courtemanche, told investigators he narrowly avoided colliding with the Mustang believed to be driven by Witzenman. “I saw headlights coming towards me… I lost vision but saw the smoke and said, ‘Oh my God, he hit him,’” he recounted after hitting the emergency services line.
Horrific as the crash was, the investigation revealed further troubling facts: Witzenman was reportedly speeding at roughly 70–80 mph in the wrong direction, and prosecutors say he was driving with a suspended license. These details highlight not only a tragic mistake but a potential string of risk‑taking behaviors.
When he appeared virtually from his hospital bed in Lowell District Court, Witzenman pleaded not guilty. He faces charges including operating under the influence of liquor and negligent operation of a motor vehicle. Bail was set at $5,000; conditions include no driving, no alcohol or drugs, and random screening for substances.
For nearly three hours, the highway was shut down as investigators canvassed the scene and cleared wreckage, causing significant disruption to the inbound lanes of the Connector.
In the wake of this collision, the community and the victim’s family are left grappling with loss and uncertainty. As state police continue their investigation, the case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences when alcohol, drugs, and reckless driving intersect.
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