One of the teenagers hurt in a car crash on Route 128 in Gloucester early Monday morning is not expected to recover from his injuries, his father said in a post on Facebook.
The family of Christopher Dailey, 18, who graduated from Gloucester High School in June, was with three other friends and fellow graduates at the time of a crash on the highway bridge over the Annisquam River for a report of a head-on, rollover car crash around 1:45 a.m., the Gloucester Fire Department said in a statement.
After the crash, Dailey was flown to Boston Hospital, the fire department said. Dailey was put on life support, with his family preparing for organ donation, according to Dailey’s father, Richard Dailey.
“We are heartbroken to share that Christopher will not recover from his injuries,” Richard Dailey wrote. “He is on life support in preparation for organ donation, but will soon be with the Lord. Although we haven’t left the hospital since the accident, we have been overwhelmed by everyone’s love, prayers, support, and generosity.”
In a statement, Gloucester Mayor Greg Verga wrote that Dailey’s condition was a “tragic loss.”
“He had so much life ahead of him, and his passing is a heavy loss for everyone who knew him—especially his teammates, friends, and family,” Verga wrote. “My thoughts are with his family and all who are grieving during this incredibly difficult time.”
Verga added that if residents need support, they can contact grief counseling services and urged people not to “hesitate to reach out — help is here if you need it.”
Two people were trapped in the cars and had to be freed by firefighters, the fire department said. Three other people involved in the crash were taken to Beverly Hospital. One of them, a 19-year-old woman, was later transferred to Tufts Medical Center in critical condition.
A man in his 80s was later transferred to Lahey Hospital in Burlington in critical condition, the fire department said. A different 19-year-old woman who was involved in the crash was treated at Beverly Hospital and released.
A fifth person, an 18-year-old man, was privately transported to Addison Gilbert Hospital in Gloucester, the fire department said. His condition remains unknown.
The preliminary investigation into the crash indicates that one of the cars was driving north in the southbound lane of Route 128 when the cars collided, Massachusetts State Police said in an email. The drivers were among those injured in the crash.
MassLive has reached out to Essex District Attorney Paul Tucker’s office for more information.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
