Off-Duty Somerville Police Officer Dies After I-95 Crash

SOMERVILLE, MA – An off-duty Somerville police officer hit by a car while riding his motorcycle on I-95 in New Hampshire Sunday morning has died, a city of Somerville spokesperson said. Louis Remigio, 55, of Tewksbury, was a 30-year veteran of the Somerville Police Department's Traffic Unit. During his tenure with the Somerville Police Department, Remigio received multiple awards for his service, including two Life Saving Awards, a Meritorious Service Award, a Beyond the Call of Duty Award and numerous commendations by both his colleagues and members of the community.

"Louie was a first class human being and exactly the kind of police officer you want serving your community; he was tough yet kind, empathetic, and fair," Somerville Police Chief David Fallon said in a statement. "As a Chief, you always want to see that any interaction your officers have with community members are changing people’s lives for the better, and Officer Remigio embodied that one thousand percent. Louie was a very important part of this department, and I cannot begin to express what his loss will mean not only to each of us in the Somerville Police Department, but to the Somerville community. My heart and my prayers are with his family during this time of unimaginable loss."

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Remigio succumbed to his injuries Monday night. Michael Ricci, 18, of Burlington, has been charged with felony reckless conduct in the Sunday morning crash on I-95 in North Hampton, NH. Witnesses told police Ricci was allegedly racing other cars when his 2013 Mercedes-Benz C300 abruptly crossed over from the northbound to the southbound side and collided with Remigio's 2003 Harley-Davidson, New Hampshire State Police said.

Ricci was not injured in the crash.

Ricci posted $10,000 bail and was released Monday. He is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 20.

Three other vehicles were damaged in the wreck. John Bamford, 63, and Jaclyn Bamford, 61, were also injured when their Subaru Legacy could not stop in time and crashed into Ricci's Mercedes. The Bamfords, of Wells, Maine, were taken to Portsmouth Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Remigio was a single father of two daughters; his wife passed away in 2016.

"Officer Remigio was not only one of the most dedicated officers, but he was a well-respected and well-loved member of our city," Mayor Joseph Curtatone said in a statement. "Whether responding to an emergency, conducting his daily duties, or assisting with one community event or another, Lou met each person with compassion, with a smile, and he was known for going the extra mile to keep our residents safe. His loss will be immeasurable in the Somerville Police Department, and today we grieve as a community for Officer Remigio, for his family, and for his brothers and sisters in the Somerville Police Department."

Nearby local and regional law enforcement agencies responded to Remigio's death on Twitter Tuesday morning.

Image via Somerville PD