Gardner Woman Killed in Route 2 Crash

The Massachusetts State Police tonight released the identity of a woman killed in this afternoon's fatal car crash on Rte. 2 near Spring Street in Lexington.

Shannon Gwiazda, 33, of Gardner was killed in the 2:11 p.m. accident when her 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser veered from the eastbound lane of Rte. 2 into the westbound lanes, hitting a 2008 Cadillac CTS driven by Harvard resident Gina Ashe, 47, according to a state police press release.

Gwiazda's car then hit a 2009 Kia, driven by Maynard resident Theresa Lamoureaux, 51, before hitting a fourth car, a 1999 Ford pickup truck driven by Methuen resident Mark Saffie, 52.

Gwiazda was pronounced dead at the scene. Ashe and Lamoureaux sustained serious injuries, and were taken by ambulance to Lahey Clinic in Burlington. Saffie was uninjured in the wreck.  

The Lexington Fire Department and state Dept. of Transportation Highway Division assisted. Rte. 2 was closed for three hours following the accident, while police conducted crash investigation and removed the cars.

Traffic was backed up on Rte. 2 well into the evening commute, and on Waltham Street where drivers were exiting.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by State Police Troop A, with assistance from the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction and State Police Crime Scene Services sections.