ATHOL — The Orange man killed in a head-on collision in Athol on Monday night has been identified as 59-year-old Michael W. Noonan.
According to a press release from Laurie Loisel, director of communication and outreach with the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, Noonan was killed shortly before 8:30 p.m. on Monday after he lost control of the vehicle he was driving while negotiating a curve near 49 South Main St., colliding head-on with a vehicle in the opposite lane. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Athol firefighters had to use cutting equipment to extract Noonan from the wreckage. The release states the driver of the other vehicle was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. There were no passengers in either vehicle.
Police from Athol and Orange responded, as did Massachusetts State Police troopers. According to the release, the accident remains under investigation by State Police troopers assigned to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office as well as the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.