Massachusetts State Police: Two dead from injuries sustained in wrong-way highway crash

Two people have died from injuries sustained in a wrong-way highway crash this past weekend.

According to Dave Procopio of Massachusetts State Police, on Saturday night, Massachusetts State Troopers responded to Route 395 south in Webster for a two-vehicle crash caused by a wrong-way operator. The crash resulted in the deaths of both the wrong-way driver and the driver whose vehicle he struck head on.

Preliminary investigation indicates the following. At approximately 10:17 p.m. a GMC Sierra pickup was traveling northbound in the left lane of the southbound side of Route 395. Simultaneously, a 2012 Honda CRV sport utility vehicle was southbound in the same travel lane. The Sierra struck the Honda head-on in the southbound left lane in the area of mile marker 2.6, in the vicinity of Exit 3.

The operator of the Sierra, 31-year-old Jordan Pimentel of Auburn, Mass., sustained fatal injuries and was determined to be deceased on scene.

The operator of the Honda CRV, 35-year-old Kayla Morey of Dayville, Conn., also sustained fatal injuries and was determined to be deceased on scene.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene and secured for further investigation.

According to a statement, Morey was a 4th grade teacher at Putnam Elementary School in Putnam, Connecticut.

“Miss Morey was a gifted and talented teacher who deeply cared for her students.”

The investigation into the facts and circumstances of the crash, including why Pimentel was operating the wrong way and where he entered the wrong side of the highway, is ongoing. The investigation is being conducted by the State Police-Sturbridge Barracks, State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, State Police Crime Scene Services Section, and State Police Detective Unit for Worcester County. Troopers were assisted on scene by the Webster Fire Department and Webster Police Department.

Both lanes of Route 395 south at the crash site were closed for approximately five hours to accommodate the rescue response and crash reconstruction.