Fatal Crash on Route 1; Man Charged with OUI

A taxi driver was killed on Route 1 Friday night after being hit by a man operating under the influence of drugs, police said.

The victim was standing in the breakdown lane inspecting damage from an accident moments earlier when he was hit by an SUV. A six-year-old boy, who was a passenger in another vehicle, also suffered serious injuries, police said.

William Halpin III, 25, of Melrose, is charged with operating under the influence of drugs and vehicular homicide, according to a State Police press release.

The man who died was a taxi driver from Lynn, according to the release. He rear ended a Chevy Cobalt on Route 1 northbound in Lynnfield at about 8 p.m. Friday and was standing in the breakdown lane inspecting the damages with the other driver when a Chrysler Pacifica driven by Halpin hit the Cobalt and him, according to the release.

He was transported to Lynn Union Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

State Police units remained on the scene the  crash about 11 p.m. Friday.

The driver of the Cobalt and another passenger in that car were not injured, police said.

More details are expected to be released tomorrow. State Police are withholding the name of the victim until family can be notified.