Westfield police officer Jose Torres killed after being struck by construction truck

WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - A 27-year veteran Westfield police officer has been killed following a crash while working a construction detail Thursday morning.

Westfield Police Capt. Hipolito Nunez told 22News that the officer, identified as Jose Torres, was working an off-duty construction detail on Pontoosic Road just before 7:30, when he was struck by a dump truck. The construction area where the officer was hit was near 44 Pontoosic Rd, just south of the intersection of Pontoosic and Little River Roads.

Torres was taken to Baystate Medical Center, and Nunez said that police were notified around 10:00 A.M. that he had died.

The Westfield police traffic bureau and the state police truck team are investigating, as well as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

At police headquarters on Washington Street, a black memorial banner hangs over the door, and the flag is flying at half-staff.

PHOTOS: Westfield Officer Killed

Workers at the construction site are visibly upset, and residents on Pontoosic Road and from throughout the Westfield area told 22News they were shocked and saddened to hear about what happened.

"Oh, I can't believe it, I didn't believe it. Nope, Still in shock. Nice people, great sense of humor, do anything for you," said Bob Valliere, who lives on Pontoosic Road.

"I'd say it's pretty tragic, when you start losing policemen it's tough," Roland Marcoulier of Chester said.

"We lost one last year to cancer, Kevin Swords, and recently we just lost one in Springfield, so it's always sad when a cop dies because I have family that are cops," Garrett Baker of Westfield said.

According to the Officer Down Memorial Page , 105 police officers have been killed on the job since 2000 after being hit by a vehicle. Torres is the second killed in Western Massachusetts this year. Springfield Officer Kevin Ambrose was shot and killed in the line of duty on June 4.

22News reporters Laura Hutchinson and Ryan Walsh are in Westfield, and they will bring you the latest information as it becomes available on air, online, and on the go.