The alleged wrong-way reckless driver on Route 3 in Weymouth who hit several vehicles and then carried a knife down the highway before getting arrested has been charged with OUI drugs and numerous other offenses, according to police.
Michael Silvia, 43, of Plymouth, has been identified as the suspect who’s accused of the chaotic wrong-way incident Saturday evening south of Boston.
Silvia allegedly struck several vehicles before crashing into a guardrail, then apparently got out of his vehicle while carrying a knife, according to Massachusetts State Police who tried to tase him.
After troopers were unable to tase Silvia, he allegedly threw the knife toward the woods and was arrested. He was transported to South Shore Hospital in Weymouth for a psychiatric evaluation.
The Plymouth man is now facing a litany of offenses, including assault with a dangerous weapon (knife), OUI drugs, and possession of a Class B drug (cocaine).
The other charges are: reckless operation of a motor vehicle; failure to stop for police; leaving the scene of a crash that caused personal injury; leaving the scene of a crash that caused property damage; and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.
Silvia pleaded not guilty, and he will undergo a competency evaluation at Bridgewater State Hospital.
State Police out of Norwell at around 8:25 p.m. on Saturday started to receive calls of a wrong-way driver heading south on Route 3 in the northbound lane in Weymouth.
“According to cell phone callers, the vehicle was driving recklessly towards oncoming traffic and caused numerous accidents on Rt 3,” a State Police spokesperson said in a statement.
Troopers and local police officers on Route 3 tried to find and parallel the suspect vehicle. At some point, the suspect vehicle got back on Route 3 in the correct direction, turned around and proceeded to travel in the wrong direction (heading south in the northbound lane) again.
“After causing multiple crashes with unsuspecting, oncoming traffic, the suspect crashed his vehicle into the guardrail / median area on Rt 3 in Weymouth,” the State Police spokesperson said.
Multiple witnesses then saw the suspect walking outside of his vehicle while holding a knife, and police were alerted.
