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MA Storm: Snow And Heavy Winds Kill 2, Knock Out Power For Thousands And Send Trees Crashing Down

At the dawn of spring, Massachusetts gets a belting from a winter-like storm. And there's more to come.

MASSACHUSETTS — Just when many residents thought wintry conditions were over, snow and and winds of up to 60 mph whipped into Massachusetts Saturday and into Sunday, hitting some areas harder than others. By Sunday afternoon, the April storm had killed two people in the state, knocked out power for 40,000 homes and businesses and sent uprooted trees crashing onto electric wires, houses and cars.

Snow totals Sunday afternoon ranged from little more than a dusting to 8 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

Boston's snowfall total was on the low side — for now. The forecast from the weather service calls for up to 4 more inches Monday for the city and the surrounding areas. Winds will lessen but still be brisk.

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If April's an odd month for a storm like this one, its arrival on a weekend was fortunate as commuters were few when the falling snow, blasted sideways by the wind, caused whiteout conditions on many roads.

Wind was the biggest problem and likely to blame for the state's two deaths.

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The victims, a man and a woman from Whitman, were killed in Abington as they were driving down the street and an uprooted tree came crashing down on top of their roof.

The incident occurred on Rockland Street, news outlets reported. Both victims were trapped in the car when fire crews arrived Sunday morning at about 10:15. Authorities identified them as Franklin Teixeira, 49, and Manuela Teixeira, 51, according to the Boston Globe.

Abington's fire chief, John M. Nuttall, told a news conference Sunday that emergency workers needed 30 minutes to get both victims out of the car.

“It was a difficult extrication, “ he said. “If you can imagine a small car with a large tree falling on it. . . It just completely crushed the passenger compartment.”

Both victims died at South Shore Hospital.

Another tree caused delays for the MBTA when it fell on an overhead wire at Chestnut Hill station. That led to a temporary closing of a portion of the Green Line's D Branch. Shuttle buses were brought into transport passengers.

This was not winter's last gasp in its battle with spring.

A second weather system is on its way, with more cold and snow forecast Sunday and Monday.

Northeast, more snow and cold will arrive on Sunday night into Monday.

Here are some photos from the day of winter weather.

— Wellesley Police (@WellesleyPolice) April 3, 2016


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