Police: Street Racing Caused Curran Highway Accident

	A car and pickup involved in the accident sustained severe damage.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Police say drag racers on Curran highway caused a three-car accident Thursday night; four people were taken to the hospital.

Sgt. James Burdick said at 10:57 p.m. a North Adams ambulance on its way back from Pittsfield reported two vehicles moving at a high rate of speed northbound on Curran Highway from Adams. He said a minute later, the ambulance called in a three-car accident near Ocean State Job Lot.

Alleged drag racer Hassen Delia, age 26, was driving his girlfriend's 2007 Infinity at a high rate of speed from the Adams line through an intersection on Curran Highway with another unidentified car, said police. 

"They went through an obvious intersection at Walmart at a very high rate of speed and one of the drag racers left [the scene]," Burdick said.

Burdick said three "innocents" were involved in the accident and taken to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield along with Delia.

Nathan Pitoniak, age 22, from Adams and an unidentified passenger were transferred along with Gabriella Schafer, age 18, to Pittsfield.

Burdick said the accident is still under investigation and police have information on the driver who fled the scene. He said Jaws of Life were needed to get all of the occupants out of the vehicles.

"We have some information that we are following up on, and the investigation is still ongoing," Burdick said. "Charges will be brought forward, no question about it."

Burdick did not have any information on any of the injuries, but said there had been no reports of fatalities at this time. He said the roadway was closed for more than seven hours, from 11 Thursday night to 6:30 Friday morning. The North Adams Police Department and North Adams Fire Department both called in a second shift to aid.

North Adams received mutual aid from Adams and Williamstown, he said. Adams Police Department and Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts provided officers for traffic detail. The Williamstown Police Department provided the North Adams Police Department with back up while they tended to the accident. The Williamstown Fire Department supplied the North Adams Fire Department with another Jaws of Life for back up.  

Burdick said Village Ambulance of Williamstown provided back up for North Adams Ambulance. He said Adams Ambulance also helped.

The state police supplied crime scene services and provided photography and accident reconstruction services, he said.

"You pick the place, we all come together and help each other out," he said. "We always like to give kudos to the other towns."