Authorities have identified two victims in vehicle-related crashes that occurred at the end of July as Bert Hickey, 51, of Belchertown, and Heru Dihaan, 19, a Connecticut resident who had a sister living in Northampton.

Hickey, who died on July 21 in a single-vehicle crash on Washington Street in Belchertown, worked as a carpenter for Integrity Construction for 22 years, according to his obituary.

He was described as having a passion for music, working out, cars and bikes. He also leaves behind four children, one grandson, his mother, father, sister and three dogs.

Dihaan was struck and killed on July 29 near Exit 25 on Interstate 91. According to his obituary, Dihaan was born in Brooklyn, New York and grew up in the Connecticut city of Winsted. He had a sister living in Northampton.

Dihaan’s obituary described him as someone who “was dedicated to helping people in need and always accepting of others,” often volunteering at a local soup kitchen. He enjoyed playing “Dungeons and Dragons” and “Magic: The Gathering” games with friends and enjoyed jazz and hip-hop, according to the obituary, and had aspired to be a librarian due to a love of books.

Hickey and Dihaan were two of five people killed as a result of vehicle crashes in the Pioneer Valley area during a two-week period. On July 18, Jose Soto, 62, of Springfield, died shortly before 9 p.m. after two vehicles collided at the intersection of Damon Road and King Street in Northampton. About one hour later on the same day, a single vehicle crash in Westhampton claimed the life of Timothy Slate, a 17-year-old student of Hampshire Regional High School.

On July 25, a two-car crash in Chicopee led to the death of one person while the other driver, 37-year-old Andrew Wilkins of South Hadley, was arrested on charges of operating under the influence following the crash.

Alexander MacDougall can be reached at amacdougall@gazettenet.com.