(New Salem, MA) Update: According to the Northeastern District Attorney’s Office, William Mattei, 75, from the village of Rochdale in Leicester was the driver of the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado that was hit by a falling tree and suffered fatal injuries, dying at the scene of the accident. Mattei was the sole occupant of the vehicle that was traveling down Petersham Road (Route 122) near the intersection with Sweezy Lane in New Salem Wednesday.

Another driver in a van struck the tree debris and called 911 reporting the incident of the tree falling on Mattei’s truck. The van sustained some damage, but the driver was not injured. The roadway was closed until about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday while debris was removed.

Investigators have not determined the cause of the tree uprooting and falling on the truck. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will be determining the cause of death.

Police and fire personnel from Petersham, New Salem, and Orange responded to the scene along with 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.

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(07/19/2023) A fatal accident involving a tree has closed down a section of Route 122 in New Salem this afternoon. A 75 year old man driving a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado either hit a tree or was hit by the tree falling, causing fatal injuries. According to Massachusetts State Police the accident was reported just before noon Wednesday and is currently under investigation by the State Police with their Collision Analysis and Reconstruction team, Crime Scene Services, and Detective Units.