EagleTribune.com, North Andover, MA
Merrimack Valley
Sergeant home from Iraq hurt in crash
Published: September 8, 2008
LAWRENCE — A military sergeant who just returned home from Iraq was struck head-on last night by a North Andover man believed to be driving under the influence of illegal and prescription drugs, police said.
Johnny Jiminez, 24, of 29 Woodland Court was listed in critical condition at Boston Medical Center, where he was flown after the 8:15 p.m. accident near 135 Prospect St. The crash scene is within walking distance of Lawrence General Hospital.
Police said Jiminez was driving a motorcycle south on Prospect Street when a Ford Focus operated by Robert Lechleider, 20, of North Andover veered into oncoming traffic, hitting a pickup and then striking the motorcycle head-on, police said.
Jiminez tried to avoid the collision by locking up his brakes, a witness told police.
Lechleider's pupils were "completely dilated" and he was "noticeably swaying from side to side" after the crash, according to a police report. As he was questioned by officers, police said 20 Ecstasy pills in a plastic bag fell from his shirt pocket onto the street.
Lechleider later admitted to police he had taken both Ecstasy, an illegal designer drug, and Seroquel, a depression medication, prior to the crash. He was also carrying brass knuckles, police said.
Lechleider, of 32 South Cross Road, was charged with driving while under the influence of drugs, illegal possession of a Class B drug, Ecstasy, driving to endanger, a marked lanes violation and speeding.
Police believe Lechleider, a North Andover High School honor roll student who graduated in 2006, was driving well above the posted 20-mph speed limit in that area of Prospect Street.
A state police drug recognition expert was called to help Lawrence officers interview Lechleider, police Chief John Romero said. Troopers also helped Lawrence officers reconstruct the crash.
A witness, Carlos Merced, 28, of Lawrence, told police he was driving his Dodge Dakota pickup in front of Jiminez.
Merced said he saw the Focus coming at him "in the opposite lane," according to a police report. He tried to avoid a collision, pulling to the extreme right onto the sidewalk, but the Focus struck the driver's side rear quarter panel of his pickup.
As the Focus came toward the motorcycle, Jiminez locked up his brakes but could not avoid the collision, Merced said.
Lechleider told police he did not remember hitting the pickup. The motorcyclist, he said, was driving erratically.
By observing the skid marks, police said it was clear the Focus did "travel across the solid double line" on Prospect Street and into the motorcycle's path.
Lechleider was held at the Lawrence police station overnight pending arraignment this morning in Lawrence District Court.
It's unclear in which branch of the military Jiminez serves. Family members told police that Jiminez, a sergeant, just returned home from the war in Iraq, Romero said.
His relatives then left for Boston Medical Center immediately, the chief said.
