Holyoke police said icy roads caused a five-car crash on Routes 10 and 202 (Apremont Highway).
Conditions continued to deteriorate in Western Massachusetts Saturday as freezing rain contributed to a fatal crash in Holyoke and added weight to roofs already dangerously laden with snow.
Holyoke Police Sgt. John P. Hart said icy roads caused a five-car crash on Routes 10 and 202 (Apremont Highway) after 5:30 p.m. The wreck forced the closure of the road to the Westfield border.
Police were still investigating Saturday night and Hart could not provide more information about the wreck or injuries.
State police in Russell warned of “flash freezing” of rain and the speed limit on the Massachusetts Turnpike was reduced from 65 mph to 40 mph from the Sturbridge exit west to the New York line.
Roof collapses from heavy snow remained a concern as the Hampshire Regional YMCA and a dormitory at Smith College, both in Northampton, had to be evacuated.
Northampton Fire Capt. Jon M. Davine said approximately a half-dozen workers were removing snow from the roof of the YMCA on Prospect Street when they heard “five loud bangs and the roof bounced.” The incident happened at approximately 2:30 p.m.
“We got the call and we evacuated the structure,” Davine said.
Davine said the building inspector was called, and they are waiting for a structural engineer to do an evaluation. There were no injuries. The recorded greeting at the YMCA said the building was closed as a precaution.
The Fire Department also received a call at 5:45 p.m. about “a lot of water leaking” into the kitchen at the Dawes House, a dormitory at Smith College at 8 Bedford Terrace, he said. Davine said there was snow buildup on the back roof, and the students were evacuated. The building inspector also was called to the scene and is working with the Smith College public safety department.
Davine said he was not sure if the students would have to find alternate housing. A spokeswoman for the college could not be immediately reached for comment. The college’s website states that Dawes House was built in 1926.
Snow that accumulated throughout last week already was taking a toll on roofs before heavy rain and ice were added to the mix on Saturday.
Roofs found to have collapsed Saturday including one on a garage at 251 Eastern Ave. in Springfield, and one on a large barn at 226 Lower Hampden Road in Monson used for storage, according to Monson Fire Chief George L. Robichaud, who said the roof of a storage building at 99 Main St. in that town failed Friday. The Stop and Shop on Riverdale Street in West Springfield was closed as a precaution Saturday, according to the Fire Department. In Ludlow, a firefighter said that a bathtub refinishing business at 541 Center St. – Miracle Method – had its roof collapse on Saturday morning; the business was vacant at the time. On Friday night, Ludlow firefighters responded to 66 Guertin Ave. because a wall buckled in due to the snow. The home was condemned by the Building Department, a firefighter said. No injuries were reported in any of the incidents.
Meanwhile, officials with the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority announced the MassMutual Center has been deemed safe from a snow collapse and will re-open today after a thorough engineering inspection.
The “Disney on Ice” performances remain canceled.
A spokeswoman for the Springfield facility on Friday said weekend performances of “Disney on Ice” would be canceled over concerns about the potentially crushing weight of snow that had piled up on the building’s roof. However, engineers found no signs of damage or stress in the support structure of the arena or its roof, and determined that the load of snow was far less than what the roof is designed to hold.
“We acted appropriately on the side of caution and in the interest of public safety in deciding to close the facility,” said James E. Rooney, executive director of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, which owns the MassMutual Center at State and Main streets.
The State Street side of the building was clogged with heavy equipment on Saturday to clear the roof.
“We have now confirmed that the roof is structurally safe and sound and will be around for a very long time; we’ll be open for business (Sunday),” Rooney said.
In addition, the Springfield Falcons have postponed Tuesday’s game against Bridgeport to Feb. 16 at 7 p.m.
Weather conditions are expected to improve temporarily. Dan Brown, a meteorologist at abc40, said Sunday should be sunny with highs in the mid- to upper 30s. But he said there is potential for a big storm on Thursday.
Staff writer Stephanie Barry contributed to this report.