A well-known defense lawyer was killed in Spencer Monday after a crowbar flew through his windshield, authorities said.
John F. Madaio, 63, of Paxton, was driving a 2011 Toyota RAV4 east on Route 9 near around 10 a.m. “when a crowbar was kicked-up or fell from another vehicle,” the Spencer Police Department wrote on Facebook.
The crowbar hit Madaio in the head, causing his car to leave the road, strike a curb, and hit an unoccupied car in the parking lot of a condominium complex. The car went over an embankment before finally stopping, police said.
Madaio was taken to Harrington Hospital in Southbridge, where he died, police said.
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In a statement, the Worcester County District Attorney’s office recalled Madaio as “a dedicated advocate for his clients,” as well as “a great father, great lawyer and extremely well-respected member of the DA’s office for more than 15 years.”
“John touched many people in his life with his sharp wit, his compassion and his legal abilities,” the statement said. “This is a big loss for our community.”
Jackson Cote can be reached at jackson.cote@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @jackson_k_cote.