Mother, son killed in Fitchburg car crash

FITCHBURG, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) – A mother and her teenage son were killed in a head-on collision Sunday morning on Ashby State Road in Fitchburg.

Michelle Martens, 36, and Justin Fournier, 16, of 20 Turnpike Road, were riding in a Kia Sportage around 10:30 a.m. when their car crossed over a marked lane and struck another car being driven by Wayne Patenaude.

Martens and Fournier were pronounced dead at the scene. Patenaude remains at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester with a shattered heel.

The cause of the crash is under investigation, but the fire department said slippery roads could be to blame.

Ashby fire officials said both Martens and Patenaude worked for the department. Patenaude is a 15-year veteran and Martens had worked for the department since 2008.

Officials said Patenaude had no idea who was in the other vehicle.

Cox Media Group