REVERE, MASS. (WHDH) - An East Boston man accused of carjacking a vehicle from an Uber driver is facing a drugged driving charge after he hit a Department of Transportation worker in Revere early Thursday morning, officials said.
Troopers responding to a report of a person struck in the area of Route 1 and Route 16 just after midnight learned that the worker was getting out of his truck to assist with an earlier OUI crash on Sargent Street when he was struck by a 2017 Honda Civic, state police said.
The man who allegedly hit him, Matthew Ricco Tyre, 29, was arrested after trying to flee the scene.
Troopers later determined that the vehicle he was driving was stolen from a 29-year-old Revere man who was working as an Uber driver.
The driver, who wished to remain anonymous, said that Tyre left him fearing for his life.
“It was like he had a double personality.”
Tyre tried to drink a bottle of whiskey according to the Uber driver. He allegedly became enraged when the driver told him to put it away.
Terrified, the driver pulled over and got out of the car to call 911.
Before taking off in the Uber driver’s car, Tyre allegedly chased him down the street and pushed him.
The shortlived ride ended when officials say Tyre crashed into a Department of Transportation worker.
The DOT worker, 52-year-old Rick Freni, suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Remembering the incident Freni said, “I reached around to grab my yellow vest before I got out of the car. Next thing you know I was face planted into the steering wheel.”
Tyre was arraigned in Chelsea District Court Thursday on charges including carjacking, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, assault and battery on a police officer, and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.
He is due back in court at a later date.
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