Howland Avenue Collision Leaves One Dead
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| A scooter driven by an accident victim lies on the side of Howland Avenue. |
Martin Chittenden, 52, of Bienik Avenue, Adams, was pronounced dead at the scene after his bright yellow scooter was collided with the back of a dark green Jeep Grand Cherokee in front of Ronnie's Cycle shop on Howland Avenue.
Police had declined to identify the crash victim on Friday or the occupants of the Cherokee. The North Adams Transcript reported that the Jeep's passengers were three adults and an infant, none of whom were seriously injured.
The crash occurred shortly before 2 p.m. on Friday. The Jeep's driver, Dana Burdick, told the Transcript he was stopped in the left northbound lane to turn into the Goodwill Store parking lot when Chittenden collided with the back of his vehicle.
The collision shattered the back window, spraying glass over the passengers, including Burdick's 2-month-old son, Jarod. The infant was taken to North Adams Regional Hospital along with his mother, Laura Williams, as a precaution, according to the Transcript.
The fourth passenger was an unidentified family friend.
The motor scooter, a small 150 cc, lay on the opposite side of the road. The Cherokee, parked in the entrance to the Goodwill Store, had extensive rear-end damage.
In addition to the blown-out back window, the hatch door was buckled in the center. The collision apparently knocked one side of the bumper off its supports and blew glass throughout the cab. Fragments lined the front dashboard.
Northbound vehicles were allowed to pass around the scene, where the victim's body was covered by a red tarp in the northbound lane. The body could not be removed until a medical examiner could arrive.
State Police Crime Scene Services were called to reconstruct the accident and Fillion's loaded the Cherokee on a flatbed just after 4 p.m. The medical examiner was expected to arrive shortly after.
Southbound cars on Curran Highway were rerouted down Hodges Crossroad and over to East Road by North Adams Police. Adams Ambulance Service and North Adams Ambulance service responded to the scene and state police from the Cheshire barracks directed traffic.
Updated with new information on April 19, 2008.
