Pathfinder Tech student identified as victim of Palmer tractor-trailer accident

PALMER, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) - Officials have identified the high school student killed in a tractor-trailer crash in Palmer down the street from Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School last week.

The victim has been identified as Mary Collins. Authorities said that the 16-year-old Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical School student was pulling out of the school when she was hit and killed by an oncoming tractor-trailer last Tuesday afternoon.

Pathfinder Tech’s superintendent Eric Duda told Western Mass News that Mary was a South Hadley resident who was in the school’s collision repair and refinishing program.

As the community heals from the tragedy, a family friend set up a GoFundMe page to help Mary’s parents with the unexpected funeral costs. The collection has already raised more than $27,000, well surpassing the original $10,000 goal.

Superintendent Duda told us there will be a celebration of life in honor of Mary will be held Monday, June 26th, from 4 to 8 p.m. at New England Funeral Home & Cremation on Mill Street in Springfield.

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