NORTHAMPTON — A five-mile section of Interstate 91 southbound between Whately and Northampton closed Monday morning following a fatal car crash in the highway median in Hatfield at 6:25 a.m., according to state police.
Troopers from the Northampton barracks were dispatched to the scene, where the operator of the vehicle, identified as a 30-year-old man by the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, died from injuries suffered in the crash.
The State Police Collision and Reconstruction Analysis team, along with Crime Scene Services, Troop B Detectives and Hatfield Fire and EMS, responded to the scene, State Police said.
A spokeswoman for the district attorney’s said a preliminary investigation indicates that a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck was traveling south on the highway when it exited the road to the right, re-entered the road before exiting again to the left, and crossing into the median and striking several trees. The man, the sole occupant of the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene.
An injured German shepherd dog was also found at the crash site, and is believed to have been in the vehicle at the time of the accident. Hatfield Animal Control responded and transported the dog to South Deerfield Emergency Animal Hospital for evaluation and care.
The crash remains under investigation by the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, and the Massachusetts State Police Crime Scene Services Section.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of the man’s death and confirm his identity.
Because of the crash, vehicles traveling south were detoured onto Route 5 at Exit 32, with the highway closure causing significant backups as vehicles had to merge before the exit. That caused at least 20- to 25-minute delays during the morning commute.
Vehicles that exited onto Route 5 could only re-enter the highway at Exit 27 in Northampton, with an earlier entrance to the southbound lanes in Hatfield blocked off with orange cones.
By 11 a.m., the right lanes and exit ramps had reopened, though the left lane remained restricted, according to the state’s Department of Transportation. At 11:40 a.m., all lanes reopened and traffic was flowing normally.
