What Happened
Corporal Brett Martin, 51, a correction officer with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, was struck and killed on southbound I-95 in Boxford, Massachusetts, on Monday night while attempting to help a stranded motorist, according to CBS News. Martin had pulled over on the southbound side of the highway when he encountered a driver who was having trouble with their vehicle. He was struck while on the roadway and was transported to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The Essex County district attorney’s office confirmed the circumstances of the crash, noting that Martin had stopped specifically to assist the other driver. The collision happened at approximately 8:30 p.m. near mile marker 74. Martin was 51 years old at the time of his death.
The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department officially identified Martin and released a statement mourning his loss. CBS News Boston reported that the department described him in strong terms: “Corporal Martin was a dedicated, thoughtful and courageous member of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, who exhibited a selflessness, care and concern for others that was evident to all who knew him.” The statement added: “His legacy of bravery and self-sacrifice will endure among those with whom he served and among his colleagues throughout corrections and the law enforcement community.”
Martin began his career with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department in 2008, according to a statement posted to the department’s Facebook page. Over the course of his career, he worked in a number of different positions at the Suffolk County House of Correction in Boston. At the time of his death, he was most recently stationed at a security post in the kitchen of that facility.
The department’s statement closed with a message of condolence to Martin’s loved ones: “He will be greatly missed by all here within the Department, and we offer our deepest sympathy and condolences to his family and friends, and our collective support as they grieve this profound loss.”
Location & Road Context
The crash took place on the southbound side of I-95 in Boxford, Massachusetts, near mile marker 74. I-95 is one of the busiest interstate corridors on the East Coast, running from Maine through the heart of New England and continuing south through the New York metropolitan area. The Boxford stretch of the highway, in Essex County, carries heavy commuter and commercial traffic and is known for high-speed travel, particularly during evening hours when visibility can be reduced — conditions that make roadside stops especially hazardous for anyone outside a vehicle.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
The death of Corporal Martin is currently under active investigation by the Massachusetts State Police and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, as reported by CBS News. No charges have been announced publicly as of this report, and neither the identity of the stranded driver Martin stopped to help nor the driver of the vehicle that struck him has been released. The Essex County district attorney’s office has been involved in establishing the circumstances of the crash.
Broader Impact
Corporal Martin’s death is a tragic reminder of the danger that roadside stops pose even for trained law enforcement and corrections professionals. Good Samaritan stops on high-speed interstates carry significant risk after dark, and his case echoes a pattern seen across the country in which those who pull over to help others are struck by passing traffic — a hazard that applies equally to Long Island’s heavily traveled highways such as the Long Island Expressway and Southern State Parkway, where similar incidents have claimed lives in recent years.