10-Year-Old Girl Killed On Mass Pike

UPTON, MA — A 10-year-old girl was fatally struck in the breakdown lane of the Mass Pike in a horrifying collision early Sunday evening, State Police said. The girl was struck near the North Street Overpass at mile marker 102.5 in the westbound lanes in Upton.

The girl was apparently struck shortly before 6 p.m. when an SUV swerved into the breakdown to avoid a collision but wound up hitting a vehicle the girl was standing by, according to police.

Police said it appears two vehicles with New York registrations were traveling to New York - a 2011 Toyota Camry and 1999 Jeep Wrangler. The Camry was being driven by a 33-year-old New Carrollton, MD, man, and the Jeep by a Putnam Valley, NY, man, whose age was not immediately available. The Jeep got a flat tire and both vehicles pulled into the left-hand breakdown lane.

The Camry was a short distance ahead of the Jeep. The driver of the Camry got out to help change the Jeep's flat, while the man's 10-year-old daughter got out and stood near the rear of the Camry.

A 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV, also traveling westbound, was traveling in the left-hand travel lane. The Tahoe, which was pulling a trailer holding a motorcycle, was being driven by a 41-year-old Conway, NH, man. A 44-year-old Freedom, NH, woman was a passenger.

Police said that according to a preliminary investigation, the Tahoe was driving near where the two vehicles were in the breakdown lane when it approached traffic that was slowing down. As the vehicle in front of the Tahoe slowed down, the Tahoe swerved left to avoid a collision, in between the Jeep and the Camry, but struck the Camry.

The 10-year-old girl was rushed to the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in Worcester, where she was pronounced deceased.

A 1-year-old girl in the Camry at the time of the crash had no obvious injuries but was transported to the hospital for precautionary examinations.

The crash is being investigated.

Image: File Photo