Victims of Central Mass. crash IDed as 19- and 20-year-old men

Authorities have identified the two people killed in an early-morning crash in Barre the day after Christmas as young men from Central Massachusetts.

Connor Post, 20, of Gardner, and Michael Publicover, 19, of Winchendon, died in the crash, which occurred around 4:25 a.m. on Dec. 26 on Hubbardston Road, also known as Route 62, near Cummings Road, according to the Barre Police Department.

Both men were passengers in the vehicle, which was driven by a 20-year-old woman from North Brookfield. The driver sustained injuries but survived, police said.

Two people were pronounced dead at the scene, though authorities initially withheld their identities. Investigators later said speed was a contributing factor in the crash, according to a MassLive report.

Post, a graduate of Monty Tech, was known for his friendly demeanor and caring nature, according to his obituary. He worked as a carpenter and enjoyed a range of interests, including karate, music, rodeo culture, and football.

Publicover, who went by “MJ,” attended Ralph C. Mahar Regional High School in Orange before transferring to Quabbin Regional High School in Barre, family members told The Worcester Telegram & Gazette.

“He put a smile on anyone who knew him — or even those who didn’t,” his mother, Cheri Publicover, told the newspaper. Publicover was athletic and had played football since he was 5 years old. He also loved scooters and BMX bikes.

Morgan Rousseau is a freelance writer for Boston.com, where she reports on a variety of local and regional news.