Extreme Weather

Mass. Tornadoes Kill Four

National Guard mobilized for cleanup.

Multiple tornadoes swept through western Massachusetts on Tuesday, killing at least four people and injuring dozens more. The twisters hit downtown Springfield, about 90 miles west of Boston, and at least 19 surrounding communities, according to the state's governor, Deval Patrick, who gave a press conference along with Sen. John Kerry to address the disaster. One person was killed in Springfield when the car he was driving was struck by a fallen tree, and three more were reported dead in Westfield and Brimfield. Patrick has already mobilized 1,000 National Guard troops to help with the cleanup. "It's been particularly devastating in downtown Springfield," the governor said.