Thursday, 4:30 PM
ATF agent killed in West Springfield crash
(Photo courtesy of ATF)
By Globe Staff
A 43-year-old special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives was one of two people killed yesterday in a car crash in West Springfield.
Kimberly Place of Westfield was assigned to the Springfield Gun Task Force. Eduardo Gonzalez, 19, of Springfield was also killed in the crash.
State police say that a preliminary investigation indicated that Gonzalez was driving on Interstate 91 north when he lost control of his car. The car traveled through the median into the southbound lanes, where it collided head-on with Place's car.
Gonzalez was transported to Baystate Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. Place was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said speed may have been a factor in the accident.
Place, a Gloucester native who began her ATF career in 1987, was returning from an enforcement operation when the crash occurred, the ATF said in a statement.
