CHELSEA, Mass. — A Chelsea Police officer was killed in a motorcycle crash Thursday night.
Officer John Bruttaniti, 41, died after his motorcycle crashed into another motorcycle along Route 1A in Lynn. The other rider, a 25-year-old, was also hospitalized.
"On behalf of all the members of the Chelsea Police Department, it is with deep sadness and extreme difficulty that I must announce the sudden passing of our Beloved Brother Police Officer John Bruttaniti," wrote Chief Brian Kyes.
Bruttaniti was off-duty, the chief said, and was on his way home to his house in Lynn when the wreck happened about 10:20 p.m.
On Friday, purple and black bunting adorned the front of Chelsea's police headquarters. The flag out front was at half-staff.
Bruttani joined the department in March 2008. Prior to that, he worked as a firefighter for the Chelsea Fire Department for three years.
"John was just a solid, great guy. [A] great guy to work with, great guy to socialize with and again, not just me personally, but we're all saddened by his loss," said Fire Chief Richard Perisie.
Officer Bruttaniti was honored in 2015 with a lifesaving medal for rescuing a choking toddler. When he saw a man jump out of a car frantically waving for help, Bruttaniti jumped into action. The officer dislodged a penny from the girl's throat. The penny happened to be from the year the girl was born and he told FOX25 that he would keep that penny with him always.
The crash that killed Bruttaniti remains under investigation.