State Police trooper dies two years after being struck by car while on the job

BILLERICA, Mass. — A Massachusetts State Police trooper who was struck by a car while on the job has succumbed to injuries sustained in the 2018 crash, officials say.

On July 26, 2018, Trooper Thomas Devlin, 58, had pulled someone over on Route 3 in Billerica near the end of his shift. It was then that a car traveling south drove onto the breakdown lane and hit Devlin, causing serious leg, back and head injuries.

Devlin, who was assigned to the Concord barracks, was injured just south of Exit 29 in Billerica at the Chelmsford line, State Police said in 2018. He was conscious and alert when he was taken to Lahey Hospital. State Police told Boston 25 News he suffered upper and lower body injuries.

The driver who hit Devlin pinned him up against the vehicle he had stopped, which is why there was damage to the side door of the dark SUV.

Over the course of the past two years, Devlin had undergone several surgeries, but eventually passed away from the injuries sustained in the crash. He had been with the force for over 30 years.

Devlin first joined the force on July 8, 1985. His end of watch is marked as Sept. 3, 2020.

The driver who struck Devlin, a Haverhill man, was charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle, marked lanes violation, and failure to move over for an emergency vehicle. It’s unclear if charges will be upgraded due to Devlin’s death.

“Trooper Thomas Devlin upheld the highest ideals of the Massachusetts State Police: integrity, dedication to duty, and service to others,” said Massachusetts State Police Colonel Christopher S. Mason. “He loved and respected the job, and the job loved and respected him. Above all, he was utterly devoted to his family, and epitomized what it meant to be a loving husband and father. Trooper Devlin was known in the Department for his hard work, his rock solid character, and his commitment to be being a reliable friend, co-worker and public servant — a Trooper who could be counted on by his colleagues and the public. It was in service to the public, in the act of keeping our roads safe, that he gave his last, and the ultimate, sacrifice. We are lesser today for his loss and we will miss his smile.”

Devlin is survived by his beloved wife Nancy, his sons Matthew and Paul, and his daughters Rachel and Hannah.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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