FROM THE REGION.

• Position: LOCAL NEWS

COLUMN: FROM THE REGION

Ashby

2 Fitchburg men hurt in rollover accident

ASHBY - Two Fitchburg men were injured in a single-vehicle rollover accident at 2 a.m. yesterday on Route 31, according to state police. The men were in a 1997 Chevy Cavalier when it hit a utility pole and rolled over.

State police said Zachary Cassels, 18, and Paul Page, 22, of Fitchburg, were trapped in the vehicle until rescuers were able to free them. Police are still investigating the crash, and have not released information on which man was driving.

Both men were taken by medical helicopters to UMass Memorial Medical Center - University Campus in Worcester. No further information was available.

Southbridge

Police don't believe alleged counterfeiter

SOUTHBRIDGE - A 30-year-old Leicester man who allegedly tried to buy cigarettes with a fake $50 bill is being summoned to court.

Shaun L. Salmon, 17 Mill St., in the Rochdale section of Leicester, will be arraigned in Dudley District Court Friday on charges of uttering and possessing a counterfeit note. A clerk magistrate found probable cause to pursue criminal charges.

On Sept. 19, Mr. Salmon allegedly tried to pass a phony $50 bill at PetroMax convenience store, 904 Main St., a police report said.

The clerk determined with a pen the bill was counterfeit, refused the transaction and called police, who seized the bill, the report said.

Mr. Salmon, who had remained at the store, told police he received the bill as part of his change for a $100 transaction he had recently made at Xtra Mart on Worcester and Mechanic streets.

But police said that was not true. They spoke with the Xtra Mart clerk and she confirmed a man had tried to buy cigarettes with a $100 bill. But the clerk refused the transaction because the store does not accept bills with a denomination that high. A review of Xtra Mart's video surveillance confirmed no transaction had been made.

The serial number on the phony bill was GE44873657A.

Sturbridge

Brookfield man faces charges after accident

STURBRIDGE - A 22-year-old Brookfield man was partially ejected and partially trapped in his vehicle after he lost control of it just after 2:30 a.m. yesterday on Route 15 (Haynes Road) by the Days Inn, according to police.

Police Detective Mark Saloio said officers found an opened bottle of 101-proof alcohol in the car.

Adam Valiquette, 22, of 8 Schoolhouse Crossroad, Brookfield, was going south at high speed, according to police, when he lost control of the vehicle...