WESTFIELD – A head-on collision claimed the life of Daniel E. Drexler on Christmas eve.
Police were called to Springfield Road (Route 20) east of East Mountain Road at 6:31 p.m. Thursday night, according to Westfield police.
A witness reported seeing Drexler’s vehicle, a 1998 Hyundai Accent, operating westbound on Springfield Road come around the corner and cross over the yellow line, Westfield Police Capt. Hipolito Nunez said.
The witness swerved and the Hyundai struck the 2001 Nissan Maxima that was traveling behind her.
Drexler, 54, of West Springfield, was transported to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Two people from the Nissan were transported to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, including the driver, 18-year-old Omar A. Abdulghani of Westfield. He and his passenger are expected to be OK, police said.
An assistant district attorney arrived on the scene around 8 p.m. and Route 20 was closed for more than three hours following the deadly collision.
Nunez said that the Massachusetts State Police are continuing to investigate the accident.
Staff Writer Christine Charnosky can be reached at [email protected]
