Massachusetts officials release identities of three killed in wrong-way highway crash

Authorities have released the names of three people who died in a fiery, wrong-way crash this weekend.

According to Dave Procopio of the Massachusetts State Police, at approximately 6 p.m. yesterday Massachusetts State Troopers assigned to the Sturbridge Barracks responded to reports of a crash involving a 2009 Nissan Murano traveling west in the eastbound lanes of Route 84 prior to Exit 6B in Sturbridge. The Nissan struck a 2011 Volvo XC60 traveling east on the eastbound side.

The crash resulted in fatal injuries to the operator of the Nissan, identified as Deyja Jackson, 40, of Worcester, and fatal injuries to the operator and passenger in the Volvo, identified as Irene Karam, 83, of Manchester, New Hampshire and Patricia Knauer, 62, of Deland, Florida.

The facts and circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation by Troop C of the Massachusetts State Police, the State Police Detective Unit for Worcester County, the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, the State Police Crime Scene Services Section, and the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office. Troopers were assisted on scene by Sturbridge Fire and EMS, Southbridge Fire, MassDOT, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.