Man Struck By Police Cruiser in Fairhaven Identified

FAIRHAVEN — The victim involved in the pedestrian/motor vehicle crash involving a Fairhaven Police cruiser on Tuesday night can now be publicly identified since his next of kin has been located and notified.

The victim is 32-year-old Christian Lapaz-Dejesus. It appears the victim had recently been living in New Bedford. He remains in critical condition at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.

Massachusetts State Police are currently investigating the incident.

At around 11 p.m. Tuesday, a Fairhaven Police cruiser was being driven westbound on Route 6 when it struck a pedestrian in the roadway just west of the 7-Eleven convenience store.

Lapaz-Dejesus was rendered aid by the officer driving the cruiser, and was then rushed to St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford after sustaining serious injuries. He was later transferred to the hospital in Boston.

The police cruiser involved in the crash was a 2014 Ford Explorer.

The investigation into this crash is being conducted by Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the district attorney's office and accident reconstruction is being conducted by the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section.

— Bristol County District Attorney’s Office