State Police Investigate Fatal Crash on Route 202 in New Salem

Yesterday, at approximately 6:55 p.m., troopers assigned to the State Police Barracks in Athol responded to a three-car crash on Route 202 approximately 100 feet north of Shutesbury Road in New Salem that resulted in one fatality.

Preliminary investigation by Trooper Paul O'Connor indicates that 21-year-old Nicholas J. Cote of Keen, New Hampshire was operating a 2002 Mazda Protégé on Route 202 North when he lost control of his vehicle and traveled into the oncoming travel lane of Route 202 South. The Mazda collided head-on into a 2005 Toyota Tacoma that was traveling south on Route 202 and was operated by 53-year-old Ronald E. Berger of Shutesbury. As a result of that crash a 1995 Mercury Sable that was traveling behind the Toyota and operated by 18-year-old Peter J. Copa of Malden was unable to stop and collided into the rear of the Toyota. It is unknown if Cote was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, but he sustained fatal injuries in the crash and was declared deceased at the scene. Berger was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash and was transported to Athol Memorial Hospital with minor injuries by ambulance. Copa and his two passengers were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash and were uninjured in the crash.

Although speed and alcohol appear to have been a factor, this crash remains under investigation with the assistance of the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section. The New Salem Police Department and the New Salem Fire Department assisted troopers at the scene.

Due to the investigation and the recovery of the vehicles Route 202 was closed, for approximately 2 hours, in both directions and a defile was used allowing traffic to pass the crash scene.

No further information is available at this time. Please do not call the barracks directly.

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