Witnesses described a suspected drunk driver as "hammered" following a wrong-way crash in Lowell, Massachusetts early Wednesday morning that killed another driver, police said.

According to Massachusetts State Police, 29-year-old Derek Witzenman of Woburn was drunk and driving in the wrong direction when he slammed his vehicle into a car on the Lowell Connector just after 1 a.m.

The name of the driver who was killed has not been made public. In court Wednesday, Middlesex Assistant District Attorney Ryan Callahan said the passenger of that car was airlifted to Lahey Hospital in Burlington and remains in critical condition.

Witzenman is hospitalized, but was arraigned through Lowell District Court by video. He's facing several charges, including operating under the influence of liquor and negligent operation.  

The prosecution asked for $10,000 bail, while defense attorney Joe Higgins sought personal recognizance. The judge set Witzenman's bail at $5,000 and ordered that he not drive or consume any alcohol and drugs. Witzenman is also subject to random screenings for substances.

Witness Eric Courtemanche said he was on his way home when he saw the wrong way driver going 80-to-90 miles per hour just before the crash.

"I saw headlights coming towards me," Courtemanche told WBZ-TV. "I swerved and I knew somebody was behind me so when I came around the corner, I lost vision but I saw the impact of the smoke and I said, 'Oh my God he hit him.' So I called 911." 

All inbound lanes on the connector were closed for nearly three hours for the investigation and cleanup.

According to prosecutors, Witzenman had bloodshot and glassy eyes following the crash and an odor of alcohol. Witzenman told police he had not had anything to drink, but allegedly said he had smoked marijuana earlier. No field sobriety test was completed and Witzenman was taken into custody.

"As the other witnesses had attempted to check on the defendant's well-being, they used the word 'hammered' to describe the defendant's condition," Callahan said in court. "Troopers took that to indicate that he was under the influence."

Courtemanche said he could smell alcohol on Witzenman and he was slurring his words.

Police said that while he was being led to a police cruiser, Witzenman was unsteady on his feet.