Police Cruiser Camera Records Head-on Crash

A Massachusetts man was charged with driving while intoxicated after a head-on crash that was captured on a police cruiser's dashboard camera.

Stephen Swett, 32, of Lowell was charged with driving while intoxicated, a yellow line violation and having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle following the Tuesday crash. He is free on $1,000 personal recognizance bail and is scheduled to appear in Salem Circuit Court on April 8.

Pelham Police Officer Brian Barbato was driving in his marked cruiser on Route 38 in Pelham in the area of Hammar Sign Company around 9:15 p.m. Tuesday when a Nissan Maxima traveling in front of him was hit by an oncoming Volkswagen Passat.

Barbato took evasive maneuvers and was able to avoid being hit, and then activated his emergency lights, turned around, and stopped the Passat. Other responding officers assisted the operator and passenger of the Nissan.

Police said Swett, the driver of the Passat, submitted to a field sobriety test and was placed under arrest.

The driver and passenger in the Nissan were not injured. Swett suffered minor injuries to his face and refused medical treatment. Both vehicles sustained damage to the front and driver side.