Woman Charged Following Three Car Wreck on I-93

A woman involved in a three-car crash on I-93 Sunday should not have been behind the wheel to begin with, police said.

Bruna P. Gomes, 29, of Weymouth was charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle after an accident on the southbound side of the highway near Roosevelt Circle about 8:40 p.m. Sunday night, said Massachusetts State police Lt. Matthew Murray. 

Gomes's 2002 Audi A4 went up in flames following the collision with two other vehicles in the passing lane, Murray said. Gomes was taken by ambulance to Lawrence Memorial Hospital to be treated for minor injuries and was then charged by state police, Murray said.

The accident closed the passing lane on I-93 Southbound for about an hour and a half, and also closed portions of the northbound side of the highway as firefighters worked to extinguish the car fire, Medford Deputy fire Chief Martin Cunniff said.

The cause of the crash has not been determined, Murray said. Gomes's Audi had to be towed from the scene along with a 2009 Chevy Malibu, which was driven by Michael Lacrosse, 39, of Westford. A 2003 Dodge Caravan, driven by Jonathan Deily-Swearingen, 39, Amesbury, was also involved in the accident but was able to be driven from the scene, Murray said.

The accident exacerbated traffic on the highway, which was already strained as result of regular weekend construction to replace I-93 bridges this summer.

The crash is being investigated by Trooper Peter Stanley.