Two hurt in head-on collision

By Owen Boss

Staff Writer

NORTHAMPTON - A two-car accident on Route 5 Wednesday afternoon tied up rush hour traffic and resulted in two area residents being hospitalized with neck and head injuries, police said.

At 4:50 p.m., members of the local fire and police departments responded to the Exit 18 on-ramp to Interstate 91 south for a reported head-on car accident.

According to Sgt. Alan Borowski, a 2006 Chevy Cobalt driven by James Poirier, 20, of West Springfield, cut in front of a Nissan Pathfinder driven by Barry Wenzel, 56, of Easthampton.

"The operator of the Chevy Cobalt attempted to turn left onto 91 south and struck the Pathfinder as it traveled southbound on Mount Tom Road," Borowski said. "Poirier has since been cited for failure to use care while turning."

Poirier, whose vehicle was considered a complete loss and ended up pinned against a fence across from the on-ramp, was taken to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield for neck and facial injuries, where he was listed in good condition Wednesday night, a hospital spokesman said.

Also injured in the accident, Borowski said, was Wenzel's wife, Victoria Wenzel, 43, of Easthampton, who was taken to Cooley Dickinson Hospital with neck and back pain and was also treated and released, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Barry Wenzel, Borowski said, declined treatment at the scene.

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com