Mass. man medflighted with life-threatening injuries as car hits trees, splits in half on I-93

Sep. 26—A Massachusetts man was transported by medical helicopter with life-threatening injuries when the car he was driving split in half after hitting several trees on Interstate 93 South in Salem Wednesday night, state police said.

At 10:35 p.m. Wednesday, state troopers responded to the area of mile marker 1.4 of I-93 southbound for a report of a crash involving serious injuries. Upon arrival, troopers reported finding a vehicle that had left the road and was "split in half after striking several trees," officials said.

According to state police, preliminary investigation and witness statements indicate a white 2016 Lexus IS-300, driven by a man identified by police as Fredi Lopez De Leon, 22, of Lawrence, Mass., was traveling north at "a high rate of speed" when it left the road and headed toward the tree line.

Crews from the Salem Fire Department also responded and extracted Lopez De Leon from the vehicle before rushing him to the Salem High School field complex, where he was taken by medical helicopter to Boston with life-threatening injuries.

A travel lane was closed for approximately two hours on I-93 while the scene was processed.

The crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call Trooper Matthew Howe at 603-451-9588.