GREENFIELD — A 48-year-old Shelburne Falls woman was killed on the Mohawk Trail (Route 2) on Thursday morning when the Nissan Frontier she was driving burst into flames after reportedly losing control while traveling westbound and striking an oncoming Chevrolet Silverado.

The Chevrolet’s driver, a 57-year-old man, walked away with minor injuries, according to Laurie Loisel, spokesperson for the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office. No passengers were involved.

The road was closed from Home Depot to just past Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters from shortly after 7 a.m. until 11:41 a.m. so officials could investigate. Shelburne Road was used for a detour while the Mohawk Trail was closed. Both vehicles were towed.

Loisel said it is possible the collision may have resulted from slippery road conditions.

Buckland resident Phoebe Walker, who serves as director of community services at the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, was headed to a meeting at the State House when traffic stopped on the Mohawk Trail. Although Walker did not witness the accident, she said the vehicle closest to the wreckage was a school bus, followed by two or three other vehicles and then the one she was driving.

“There was this plume of smoke and flames that I could see from behind the school bus and a few cars,” she recounted. “I heard this giant popping sound, which I assume was the windows popping out.”

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120. Photographer Paul Franz contributed to this report.

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