Leicester man killed after tree falls on truck

A truck travelling west on Petersham Road near its intersection with Sweezy Lane in New Salem was struck by a falling tree that had become uprooted Wednesday, killing the driver, the sole occupant of the vehicle.

Police were called to the scene shortly before noon when the driver of a van that struck the tree debris in the roadway called 911.

William Mattei, 75, of the village Rochdale in the town of Leicester, was killed in the incident. The driver of the other vehicle was not injured, though his van sustained some damage.

According to police investigators, that driver of the other vehicle, who witnessed the tree hitting the truck, reported that the truck had no way to avoid being struck by the tree. After the impact, tree debris was scattered over both sides of Petersham Road, also known as Route 122. The roadway remained closed until about 2:30 while emergency workers and police investigators were at the scene and tree debris removed.

State Police working out of the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, State Troopers from the Crime Scene Services Section, the Collision and Reconstruction Section, and the Belchertown and Athol barracks were at  the scene. Also at the scene were police and fire personnel from Petersham, New Salem and Orange.

Investigators do not know why the tree became uprooted. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death.