Webster Police Officer Killed In An Off-Duty Crash

WEBSTER, MA—A Webster police officer has passed away after suffering injuries in a motor vehicle accident while off duty early Saturday morning, according to multiple reports.

Around 1:03 a.m. on Oct. 7, troopers were called to Route 395 southbound, south of exit 6 in Auburn. Trooper Jordan Steverman discovered that a 2015 Toyota Tundra, driven by Michael J. Lee, 38, of Webster, struck a 2012 Freightliner tractor-trailer, which was stationary in the breakdown lane, said the release. Lee was determined to be deceased at the scene due to injuries sustained from the crash.

Officer Michael Lee was "an outstanding officer, SWAT operator, investigator, and person. He will be missed by not only his colleagues in law enforcement, but by the community he served," said Webster police in a Facebook statement. "We take solace in the fact that he is now watching our backs from above like he always did on the ground."

The driver of the tractor-trailer, a 50-year-old man from Central Islip, New York was inside the cab of the truck, but was not injured.During the incident, the right travel lane was closed and reopened at approximately 6:40 a.m., when the scene was cleared.

Photo Credit: Webster Police Department