Massachusetts Daily Collegian

A free and responsible press serving the UMass community since 1890

A free and responsible press serving the UMass community since 1890

Massachusetts Daily Collegian

A free and responsible press serving the UMass community since 1890

Massachusetts Daily Collegian

Car crash claims life of student

A University of Massachusetts student suffered fatal injuries after losing control of his car, crashing through a bridge guardrail into a brook late Sunday night, according to police.

Officials at Holyoke Hospital pronounced Peter A. Jekanowski, a Junior majoring in Journalism and Political Science, dead shortly after his arrival.

“A witness reported seeing Jekanowski heading toward Hadley from South Hadley on Route 47. After coming off a curve into a downhill, Jekanowski lost control [of his car] and headed into a guardrail on the Bachelor Brook Bridge,” According to South Hadley Police Lieutenant David LaBrie.

Jekanowski’s car then traveled down a 60-foot embankment and landed on its roof in the Bachelor Brook.

“The car’s windows were completely submerged,” LaBrie said. “Only the broken undercarriage of the car was visible to the first officer on the scene.”

A witness to the crash called the South Hadley Police Department, and Robert Whelihan Jr., the first officer to arrive at the scene, attempted unsuccessfully to rescue the victim by breaking a car window with his flashlight. Whelihan and a second officer, Steven Fleming, were able to rescue the victim by breaking a window using a sledgehammer borrowed from a passer by.

Police rescued Jekanowski just minutes before South Hadley Firemen dressed in wetsuits arrived on the scene.

“We responded to the call in 2 or 3 minutes so he couldn’t have been underwater for more than 30 minutes at the most. [The medical technicians] tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate Jekanowski on their way to the hospital,” LaBrie said.

An autopsy determined drowning to be the cause of Jekanowski’s death. State Police have yet to conclude a reenactment of the crash as a part of their investigation into the cause of the accident, LaBrie said.

Jekanowski, 20, was born in Northampton and graduated from Hopkins Academy in 1988. He was living at 38 Roosevelt St. in Hadley at the time of the accident.

Peter’s parents, Sally and Peter Jekanowski, have created a scholarship fund in conjunction with Easthampton Savings Bank in Peter’s name.

“Peter’s parents have asked sympathizers to send donations to the memorial fund in lieu of flowers,” according to Easthampton Savings Bank Hadley Branch Manager John Vassallo.

Donations may be sent to the Peter Jekanowski Scholarship Fund, care of John Vassallo, Easthampton Savings Bank, P.O. Box 81, Hadley, MA 01035.

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