Light Rain 40°
Tag:

South Hadley, MA

Obituaries
Western Mass Man Killed In Crash, Dragged By Bear Remembered By Friends As 'Unique Soul' Western Mass Man Killed In Crash, Dragged By Bear Remembered By Friends As 'Unique Soul'
Western Mass Man Killed In Crash, Dragged By Bear Remembered By Friends As 'Unique Soul' You may have heard about Daniel Ducharme's death.  The 31-year-old was killed in Western Massachusetts on Sunday, May 5, after he lost control of his car and crashed in Hampshire County in the town of Hatfield. A bear is believed to have dragged him from the wreckage after that.  But his friends say those headlines left out who the South Hadley resident was.  Dozens of social media posts paint a far more complex picture of someone who cared for his friends, loved cracking jokes and making music, and had big plans for his future.  Evan Flynn posted on Facebook that Dani…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
(Update) Man Dragged From Car By Bear After Fatal Western Mass Crash ID'd By Police (Update) Man Dragged From Car By Bear After Fatal Western Mass Crash ID'd By Police
(Update) Man Dragged From Car By Bear After Fatal Western Mass Crash ID'd By Police A driver whose body was dragged away from a Hampshire County crash by a bear on Sunday, May 5, has been identified by police as a 31-year-old Western Massachusetts man, police said. Update: Friends Remember Man Dragged From Wrecked Car By Bear As "Unique Soul" Daniel Ducharme, of South Hadley, was ejected partially or fully from his Honda Civic just after 11 a.m. when he lost control of the vehicle, hit the guardrail multiple times, and crashed down an embankment on I-91 South, state police said.  Police found Ducharme's body next to the tree line near mile marker 30.8 in Hatfield. In…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Western Mass Man Admits To Drunken Crash That Killed Partner, Mom Of His Daughter: DA Western Mass Man Admits To Drunken Crash That Killed Partner, Mom Of His Daughter: DA
Western Mass Man Admits To Drunken Crash That Killed Partner, Mom Of His Daughter: DA A 30-year-old Hampshire County man has admitted to causing the 2023 rollover crash that killed his longtime partner and mother of his daughter, authorities announced on Monday, April 22.  Cory Menard, of Granby, pleaded guilty to vehicle homicide while operating negligently and under the influence of alcohol; and reckless assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, the Northwestern District Attorney said.  A judge sentenced him to two and a half years in prison with two years of probation once he's released, the prosecutor said. Earlier Report: Granby Man Charged In D…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Driver Who Killed 2 In Western Mass Avoids Jailtime — With Stipulations: DA Driver Who Killed 2 In Western Mass Avoids Jailtime — With Stipulations: DA
Driver Who Killed 2 In Western Mass Avoids Jailtime — With Stipulations: DA A 65-year-old man accused of crashing into and killing a couple in Hampshire County last year admitted to his role in their deaths on Wednesday, Oct. 25. He will avoid going to jail if he meets the judge's conditions.  Stuart A. Larkin, 65, of South Hadley, pleaded guilty to two counts of negligent motor vehicle homicide in the deaths on Northampton Road (Route 10) in Easthampton, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said.  Northampton District Court Judge Jacklyn Connly said that Larkin showed remorse for the killings and had cooperated with investigators at every turn. Fo…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
News
Marina Owner Dies Days After Floods, Heavy Rains Damage Western Mass Docks Marina Owner Dies Days After Floods, Heavy Rains Damage Western Mass Docks
Marina Owner Dies Days After Floods, Heavy Rains Damage Western Mass Docks Luke Brunelle, the owner of Brunelle's Marina in Hampshire County, has died, the company announced on social media Friday, July 14. He was 61 years old. The marina asked for privacy as they grapple with the loss, but leaders added that they would continue Luke's dedication to fostering a thriving boating culture in South Hadley and the surrounding areas.  The Brunelle family built the marina in 1959 with just a boat ramp, but it quickly grew and became a popular destination for boaters around the region. Luke Brunelle's cause of death was not released, but it comes just days after many of…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Northampton Physical Therapist Gets Probation In Indecent Assault Case: DA Northampton Physical Therapist Gets Probation In Indecent Assault Case: DA
Northampton Physical Therapist Gets Probation In Indecent Assault Case: DA A Northampton physical therapist who was convicted of inappropriately touching a patient won't serve jail time if he can behave for two years, authorities said.  Edward Kostek, 42, of South Hadley was convicted on Thursday, Sept. 22, of indecent assault for touching a female patient multiple times during separate sessions, the Northampton District Attorney's Office said. A judge gave him a two-year suspended sentence and probation after hearing from the victim on Tuesday. Kostek must also stay away from the woman and undergo sex offender evaluation and treatment. The woman said she sta…

SHARE

by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
IDs Release For Pedestrian Duo Killed By Car In Western Massachusetts IDs Release For Pedestrian Duo Killed By Car In Western Massachusetts
IDs Release For Pedestrian Duo Killed By Car In Western Massachusetts Editor's Note: A previous version of this article said the involved driver was from Hadley. That information has since been corrected.  Authorities have identified the two people who were recently hit and killed by a car in Western Massachusetts as Edward O. Hanlon Jr., age 81 and Ilona L. Murray, age 60. The incident occurred on Northampton Road (Route 10) near the Burger King in Easthampton, around 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 2, Northwestern District Attorney's Office reports.  Both victims were Easthampton residents. The driver of the involved vehi…

SHARE

by David Cifarelli
News
Police Possible Middle School Threat In Western Mass Police Possible Middle School Threat In Western Mass
Police Possible Middle School Threat In Western Mass Extra police officers are on patrol at four Western Massachusetts schools after a possible social media threat was made thru Snapchat. The threat was made against a school in Hampden County in South Hadley on Monday, May 30. Officials first became aware of the "possible" threat after school officials were notified that someone had sent a Snapchat message referencing violence at Michael E Smith Middle School, located at 100 Mosier Street, said Lt. Lt William Sowa, of the South Hadley Police Department. In an abundance of caution, the department has stationed extra officers at South Had…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
News
Ex-Teacher In New England Found Guilty Of Raping Fifth-Grader Ex-Teacher In New England Found Guilty Of Raping Fifth-Grader
Ex-Teacher In New England Found Guilty Of Raping Fifth-Grader A former Massachusetts elementary school music teacher has been found guilty of raping a fifth-grade student multiple times inside the classroom more than 10 years ago. Hampshire County resident Stephen Jaszek, age 66, of South Hadley, was found guilty on Thursday, May 12, according to Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early, Jr. After a three day jury-waived trial, Worcester Superior Court Judge William Ritter found Jaszek, a former music teacher at Julia Bancroft Elementary School, located in Auburn, in Worcester County, guilty on all charges including: Two counts of aggravated …

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes
Police & Fire
Crash Involving School Bus Hospitalizes Three In Hampshire County Crash Involving School Bus Hospitalizes Three In Hampshire County
Crash Involving School Bus Hospitalizes Three In Hampshire County Three people were hospitalized after a car crash in Western Massachusetts involving a school van. The crash took place Monday, Feb. 14, in Hampshire County in South Hadley, reported 22News WWLP in Springfield. South Hadley Police told 22News a school van was made a left turn at the intersection of Newton and Lyman Street in front of another vehicle causing the crash. Both vehicles had to be towed from the area. The drivers of both vehicles and a passenger of the school van were hospitalized, the news channel reported. The extent of their injuries was not known. The school van driver was…

SHARE

by Kathy Reakes