CHESTERFIELD — A late-night car accident Saturday left a 23-year-old man dead after his vehicle went off Ireland Street and into a branch of the Westfield River.
The Chesterfield Fire Department was dispatched to the accident at 11:31 p.m., according to the department’s Facebook page. Chesterfield Fire Chief David Hewes said the vehicle went down a 30-foot embankment and flipped over into the river.
“One of our firefighters went into the river to remove the male from the car,” Hewes said. “We got him to the shore in a very short period of time, and care was given by the fire department and the Highland Ambulance crew.”
Hewes said the driver’s name has not yet been released, but said he did not live in the area.
Hewes said Chesterfield Police, the Massachusetts State Police, and an accident reconstruction team also responded to the scene.
“Something like this is obviously tragic,” he said. “It was tough because the water was swift and cold and there was ice, but the crew did an unbelievable job of quickly getting him out.”
The car was badly damaged and Hewes said he could not identify the make or model. A large crane had to be used to remove the car from the river.
The victim was taken to Cooley Dickinson Hospital and was pronounced dead at 4 a.m. Sunday.