NEW SALEM — The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office has identified the 75-year-old Leicester man who was killed Wednesday by a falling tree while he was driving on Route 122.

William Mattei was the sole occupant of the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado that was traveling west on Route 122 near the intersection with Sweezy Lane shortly before noon when the vehicle was struck by a tree that became uprooted, according to DA’s office spokesperson Laurie Loisel. Mattei died at the scene, Loisel said.

The impact scattered tree debris across both sides of Route 122, also known as Petersham Road. The roadway remained closed until about 2:30 p.m. while emergency workers and police investigators worked on scene and debris was removed.

Emergency personnel responded after the driver of a van that struck the debris in the roadway called 911, according to Loisel. The van driver was uninjured, but the van sustained damage. The van driver, who saw the tree hit the pickup truck, reportedly told police that Mattei had no way to avoid the tree.

Investigators do not know why the tree became uprooted. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death, according to Loisel.

State Police working out of the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, state troopers from the Crime Scene Services and Collision and Reconstruction sections, and the Belchertown and Athol barracks responded. Also at the scene were police and fire personnel from Petersham, New Salem and Orange.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.

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