An unmarked Massachusetts State Police cruiser came to rest in front of Westfield State University entrance after colliding with a Westfield State University cruiser prior to the funeral procession of Westfield Police Officer Jose Torres yesterday. (Photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
A collision between a Westfield State University cruiser and an unmarked Massachusetts State Police cruiser in front of 333 Western Ave, the administrative building for Westfield State University, caused the funeral procession of Westfield Police Officer Jose Torres to be delayed more than 30-minutes yesterday. (Photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
WESTFIELD – Massachusetts State Police are investigating the collision of two cruisers, which occurred on Western Avenue during the funeral services for Westfield Police Officer Jose Torres. The collision involved an unmarked state police cruiser and a Westfield State University cruiser.
A university official at the scene said that both the state trooper and WSU officer were transported to Noble Hospital in Westfield. The official identified the WSU officer as Sean Coughlin and the trooper as Sgt. Byron Rizos, who was coordinating the funeral and procession.
The accident happened in front of the university’s administrative building.
The Westfield Fire Department dispatched two ambulances, a rescue truck and pumper truck to the scene at 1:11 p.m., using extrication tools to remove one of the victims from the police vehicle. Two of the five victims were transported by ambulance to Noble Hospital. The rescue and extrication efforts delayed the Torres funeral procession, traveling from Parenzo Hall to Pine Hill Cemetery, for a more than a half hour.
WSU President Evan Dobelle, as well as administrators Robert Plasse and Kenneth Magarian were passengers in the WSU cruiser and were also transported from the scene to Noble Hospital for treatment following the collision and were later released.
