Former UMass student injured in head-on crash
By Dan O'Brien, Collegian Staff
February 22, 2006
New information has been released regarding a serious car accident that occurred early Monday morning on Route 9 in Hadley.
Police said Nicole C. Clement, 23 of Holyoke was traveling east on Route 9 in front of the Hadley Garden Center when she drove into oncoming traffic, striking head-on with a car being driven west on Route 9 by Phillip Prouty, 20 of Agawam, at 6:20 a.m.
Prouty is a former University of Massachusetts student.
Both Prouty and Clement were trapped in their cars before being rescued by Hadley and Amherst firefighters using hydraulic tools.
Clement was airlifted by helicopter to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield with serious injuries. Police said she suffered from a broken jaw, arm and leg, missing teeth and a ruptured eardrum.
Police said Prouty had ankle injuries and was also taken to Baystate Medical.
None of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening, police said. Yesterday afternoon, Clement was listed in fair condition and Prouty was treated and released.
Police believe Prouty was wearing a seatbelt. However, it was unclear if Clement was wearing one.
The state police accident reconstruction team was used and the accident is still under investigation. No criminal charges have been filed at this time.
Route 9 was closed for over two hours after the accident. However, traffic backups were minimal due to the Presidents Day holiday.
Hadley police said there was another two-car accident on the same stretch of road at 1:25 p.m. Sunday, but no further details were provided.