One Dead in Rear End Crash on the Mass Pike in Charlton

Charlton, Mass. – A West Springfield woman has died after striking the back of a stopped tractor-trailer on the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90) Wednesday Evening.

Shortly after 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 14th, 2022, a Sturbridge ambulance was returning from a transport to UMASS, in Worcester, when they came upon a car vs tractor trailer Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA) in the area of the 85.6 westbound mile marker. The ambulance crew immediately alerted Sturbridge dispatch and stopped to render aid to the accident victims. Upon further assessment, crews found a car wedged under the rear end of a tractor-trailer in the breakdown lane with one patient entrapped with serious injuries. Additional units were requested from Charlton Fire and Auburn Fire to assist with extricating the victim.

According to the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) a commercial Freightliner truck, operated by a Florida man, was stopped in the breakdown lane for an unknown reason when it was struck from behind by a Honda Civic, operated by a West Springfield woman.

As fire crews worked to extricate the victim a Life Flight medical helicopter was requested but was canceled a short time later by crews on the scene. The West Springfield woman was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The State police say speed does appear to be a factor in the accident.

The operator of the tractor-trailer was uninjured.

The highway’s right travel lane and breakdown lane remained closed for approximately three hours to allow for the investigation, accident reconstruction, and cleanup.

Agencies who responded, or were dispatched, included the Charlton Fire Department, Charlton Police Department, Sturbridge Fire Department, Auburn Fire Department, Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Massachusetts State Police, and UMASS Memorial Life Flight.