Nice and Michael Greeley were just a few miles from home when Michael caught a glimpse of a State Police cruiser hurtling toward their SUV. He had just enough time to say “Oh my god,” and lean toward his wife before the cruiser slammed into the passenger side of the couple’s Honda Pilot, spinning the car into a light post and sending the couple to the hospital.

Trooper David N. Stewart later received a verbal warning for running a red light in the April 2013 Chelmsford crash, the police report shows. The couple’s lawyer criticized the officer for failing to switch on his sirens or pause at the light to make sure the intersection was clear before speeding through — even if he was pursuing a suspect.

“It’s not only negligent,” said Todd Beauregard, the Lowell attorney who recently sued police on behalf of the Greeleys. “It’s reckless.”

Over the past five years, Massachusetts State Police have been involved in more than 1,800 accidents — almost one a day — leaving behind a trail of battered vehicles, expensive lawsuits, and painful injuries to officers and civilians alike. Though many were the fault of other drivers, State Police acknowledge that hundreds were the result of troopers driving too fast, ignoring traffic signals, or violating other safety rules.....