Chaos unfolded on Route 2 east in Westminster this morning when a Gardner man, 20, crashed his 2004 Toyota Camry into the rear of a privately-owned snow plow, leading to a shutdown of the highway's right lane and sending the young man to the hospital with serious injuries, officials said. The snow plow, a Peterbilt dump truck attached with a plow, was driven by a 30-year-old Leominster man who walked away unharmed. State Police reported the crash occurred at the 90-mile marker around 9:04 a.m.
According to the preliminary investigation the sedan may have been at fault perhaps due to excessive speed and the snowy road conditions which, coupled with the harsh winter landscape of New England, creates an often treacherous passage for motorists, though authorities have yet to finalize their report. The injured man was initially taken to Heywood Hospital in Gardner but was then airlifted to UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester for further treatment.
Massachusetts State Troopers from the State Police-Athol Barracks, working alongside the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section, State Police Crime Scene Services Section, and State Police Troop C Community Action Team, are spearheading the ongoing investigation. Commuters faced delays as the eastbound ramp from Rt 140 to Route 2 and the highway's right lane were closed until about 11:42 a.m., when all lanes were reported as reopened.
The incident has once again cast a spotlight on the dangers of winter driving, reinforcing the narrative that even the most routine journey can rapidly transform into a life-altering event for those involved; meanwhile, State Police are urging drivers to remain cautious and limit their speed during adverse weather conditions. More information regarding the crash and the findings of the investigation will be shared by State Police as it becomes available.
