DA’s office IDs driver killed in Gill crash

By BELLA LEVAVI

Staff Writer

Published: 07-03-2023 2:57 PM

GILL — The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office has identified the driver who was killed in a head-on collision on Friday as 57-year-old Athol resident Tracy Matthews.

The two-vehicle crash occurred on Route 2 near Barton Cove at around 4 p.m. when a westbound Mazda MX-5 Miata convertible, driven by a 63-year-old Needham man, crossed over into the eastbound lane, striking head-on the Chevrolet Cobalt that Matthews was driving.

Matthews was taken to Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield, where she was pronounced dead. According to the DA’s office, the Needham man who was driving the Miata and a passenger in Matthews’ car were also transported to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Gill Fire Chief Gene Beaubien said Northfield EMS transported all three people in separate ambulances.

Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the DA’s office as well as troopers with the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and the Crime Scene Services Section responded to the collision and are continuing to investigate the cause. No charges have been filed.

Aside from State Police, first responders came from Northfield, Gill, Bernardston and Greenfield, Beaubien said. Two occupants had to be removed from the vehicles using extrication equipment

Route 2 was closed for several hours after the crash.

Second crash in Granby

Friday’s collision in Gill was the first of two fatal crashes that occurred over the weekend in Franklin and Hampshire counties, according to the DA’s office.

A 28-year-old Granby woman died Saturday as a result of injuries sustained in a crash at around 1:15 a.m. The driver of a Jeep Grand Cherokee that was traveling northbound on Pleasant Street in Granby lost control, causing the vehicle to cross into the southbound lane, roll over and strike a Lexus SUV.

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The 28-year-old woman was the passenger in the Jeep. She was pronounced dead at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. The DA’s office has not released her identity, pending notification of next of kin.

The driver of the Jeep, a 30-year-old Granby man, was transported to Baystate Medical Center and the driver of the Lexus, a 74-year-old Springfield man, was taken to Holyoke Medical Center. Both are believed to have sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

Bella Levavi can be reached at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.

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