A Leominster man was arrested this morning after allegedly driving the wrong way on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Auburn and causing a multi-car crash that left a 66-year-old New Jersey woman dead, according to State Police.
The woman, who was from Toms River, N.J., was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.
Dwayne A. Blackman, 33, was charged with motor-vehicular homicide and transported to UMass Medical Center in Worcester with non-life-threatening injuries, said Tim Connolly, a spokesman from the Worcester County District Attorney’s office.
Troopers from State Police barracks in Charlton responded to a call at 4:35 a.m. from a toll-collector who observed a man driving east in the westbound lanes of the Mass. Pike, State Police spokesman David Procopio said.
Shortly after the first report, another caller described the crash involving three vehicles, one of which was engulfed in flames, and the Auburn Fire Department and Auburn, Millbury, and Charlton EMS responded to the scene, Procopio said.
When asked if alcohol was a factor in the accident, Connolly responded, “It is still under investigation.â€
The two occupants of the other car were also transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Connolly.
The westbound lanes of the Mass. Pike were closed following the crash, with traffic being detoured onto Route 20 at Exit 10, but were reopened just before 9 a.m.
The accident is under investigation by State Police.
Haven Orecchio-Egresitz can be reached at Haven.egresitz@globe.com.
