LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The victim of a fatal motor vehicle crash on Aug. 7 has been identified as Susanna Thomas, 47, of Cheshire.

 

Thomas was believed to be traveling at a high rate of speed on Partridge Road, which has a speed limit 35 mph, when she struck a tree. 

 

A neighbor reported hearing a large boom and called 911. There were no tire tracks on the road or sounds heard to indicate the driver had attempted to brake prior to the collision, according to authorities.

 

The accident was reported at about 1:10 p.m. and Lanesborough Police, Fire and ambulance were dispatched to an area in between 782 and 785 Partridge Road.

 

First responders were able to reach the scene within 90 seconds to find a Nissan Rogue had collided with a tree and was engulfed in flames. 

 

First responders extinguished the flames and found one individual located in the driver's seat later identified as Thomas. She had suffered severe burns and was declared deceased at the scene. 

 

Thomas was a graduate of Hoosac Valley High School in Cheshire and previously worked as pastry chef and at Greylock Elementary School in North Adams. She did volunteer work, including in the kitchen at Berkshire Pathways. 

 

Law enforcement response also included the State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office and the State Police Crash Analysis and Reconstruct Section.