SOUTH HADLEY — A 44-year-old Leverett man died following a two-car crash in South Hadley on Route 116 near the Notch early Thursday morning, according to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.
Parmatma S. Khalsa, a third-grade teacher at Mosier Elementary School in South Hadley, died in the crash that occurred at 7:22 a.m., said Mary Carey, spokesperson for the District Attorney’s Office.
The accident forced the closure of the state highway for several hours, requiring vehicles heading north from South Hadley to be detoured onto Route 47 into Hadley and Route 202 into Granby and Belchertown.
South Hadley Police, Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and the State Police Crime Scene Services are investigating. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death.
South Hadley Schools Superintendent Nicholas Young said Khalsa was in his fourth year teaching at the school and had already made lasting contributions.
“He’s highly regarded, very capable and much beloved,” Young said. “His passing is especially hard because he’s so popular.”
Young said the district has activated a crisis team that will respond to the needs of children and staff on Friday. A letter being sent to parents and guardians provides additional information about services and resource materials so they can talk to their children about grief.