ROYALSTON – The Worcester County District Attorney’s office has released the names of the victims killed in a two-vehicle accident in Royalston on July 16.

Roger Byron, 52, of Gardner, and Paul Sliwinski, 69, of Auburn, were passengers in one of the vehicles involved in the accident, which occurred on Athol Road, according to the DA’s office. No additional information on the cause of the accident is available at this time.

The Royalston Police, the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis & Reconstruction Section, and the State Police Detectives assigned to the Worcester County DA’s Office are investigating the accident.

According to Police Chief Curtis Deveneau, the crash was reported at 2:22 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16. One vehicle, occupied by only the driver, was traveling south on Athol Road and a second was driving north. The second vehicle was occupied by a driver as well as two passengers, Byron and Sliwinski.

At some point, Deveneau said, the driver of the northbound vehicle appears to have lost control and struck a utility pole, a guardrail and then the southbound vehicle near the intersection of Athol and Doane Hill roads. Deveneau said one person was partially ejected from the northbound vehicle and struck the other vehicle.

Two people required extrication and three of the victims were transported to Athol Hospital. According to the DA’s office, Sliwinski was pronounced dead at the scene and Byron at Athol Hospital. Deveneau said the posted speed limit is 35 mph and the road gets tighter in that area.

Max Bowen can be reached at 413-930-4074 or mbowen@atholdailynews.com.