ROYALSTON — Two people were killed in a crash on Athol Road Tuesday afternoon, according to Police Chief Curtis Deveneau.

The crash was reported at 2:22 p.m. on Tuesday. One vehicle, occupied by only the driver, was traveling south on Athol Road and a second was driving north. The second vehicle was occupied by a driver as well as two passengers.

At some point, Deveneau said, the driver of the northbound vehicle appears to have lost control and struck a utility pole, a guardrail and then the southbound vehicle near the intersection of Athol and Doane Hill roads. Deveneau said one person was partially ejected from the northbound vehicle and struck the other vehicle.

According to Royalston Fire Chief Eric Jack, fire and ambulance crews from the Royalston, Athol, Winchendon, Orange and Templeton responded. Two people required extrication and three of the victims were transported to Athol Hospital.

According to Deveneau, the two passengers in the northbound vehicle were pronounced dead, one at the scene and the other at Athol Hospital. He said the posted speed limit is 35 mph and the road gets tighter in that area.

“It’s not yet known how this happened,” Deveneau said.

Jack noted that the storm on Tuesday was not a factor in the crash.

Deveneau said he will be speaking with the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office to discuss whether charges will be brought against the driver of the northbound vehicle. The Royalston Police, the Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis & Reconstruction Section, and the State Police Detectives assigned to the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office are investigating the accident. 

Max Bowen can be reached at 413-930-4074 or mbowen@atholdailynews.com.