What to Know
- Somerville police officer Louis Remigio, 55, remains in critical condition after an accident on I-95 in New Hampshire on Sunday.
- Authorities said Mike Ricci, 18, crossed the median in a Mercedes-Benz while racing other cars, striking Remigio's Harley Davidson.
- Ricci is facing a felony reckless conduct charge and was being held on $10,000 cash bail pending his arraignment Monday.
An off-duty Massachusetts police officer is on a ventilator and in critical condition after being struck by a teenager who was racing other cars during a collision on Interstate 95 in New Hampshire on Sunday, according to state police.
Authorities said Mike Ricci, 18, allegedly crossed the median in a Mercedes-Benz on I-95 southbound in North Hampton, striking Somerville police officer Louis Remigio, 55, who was riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle.
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State police said a Subaru Legacy rear-ended the Mercedes because it could not stop in time, and the driver of the Subaru, 63-year-old Wells, Maine, resident John Bamford, and his passenger, 61-year-old Jaclyn Bamford, were also taken to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
Ricci was allegedly racing other cars before the collision, according to police.
Remigio, of Tewksbury, who is a 30-year veteran of the Somerville Police Department, is surrounded by family, friends and other officers at Portsmouth Regional Hospital, according to the Somerville mayor's office.
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"Louis Remigio is exactly what you want in a police officer," Somerville Police Chief David Fallon said. "Big, tough, kind, empathetic ... everything you look for in an officer is Louis Remigio."
Remigio's neighbors said he is an incredible father who has been raising his two daughters on his own since the death of his wife.
"I'll be honest, I'm heartbroken," said neighbor Bill Fabiano. "Just a good guy... that you know."
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"I really hope he recovers and everything works out well for him," said another neighbor.
Officer Remigio's Tewksbury neighbors said he loves riding his Harley.
"I've seen him going up the road with it a couple times," said neighbor Jennifer Saia-Costa.
In a joint statement from Fallon and Mayor Joseph Curtatone, the two said, "We are heartbroken for Officer Remigio and his family over this tragic, completely avoidable accident. Lou is a well-loved and valued member of our police force and our community, and has served Somerville with the highest honor for the last 30 years. We continue to pray for his recovery, and our thoughts are with his entire family at this very difficult time.”
Curtatone said at a press conference Monday evening that Remegio has a long battle ahead of him.
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Ricci, of Burlington, Massachusetts, was arrested on a felony reckless conduct charge and has since posted a $10,000 cash bail at Rockingham County Jail in New Hampshire.
He is scheduled to be arraigned on October 20 in Seabrook District Court. It wasn't immediately clear if he had an attorney.
The crash is still under investigation.
