BECKET, Mass. — A 59-year-old Swiss woman was killed in a motorcycle accident Monday afternoon in Becket.

Lorenza Bernasconi-Galli was operating a 2007 Honda BTM, three-wheeled motorcycle west on the Massachusetts Turnpike when she drifted into the breakdown lane and struck the guard rail, according to state police from the Westfield barracks.

The trike and rider continued west for 188 feet before the rider was ejected. Bernasconi-Galli was fatally injured in the crash and pronounced dead at the scene.

The accident occurred at about 3:27 p.m. at mile marker 16.8 in Becket. Two other bikers were traveling with the victim but were unhurt.

The far right travel lane and breakdown lane were closed for approximately three hours during the investigation. No traffic delays were reported.

The facts and circumstances of the crash remain under investigation by Troop E with the assistance of troopers assigned to the Crash Analysis and Reconstruction Section and the Crime Scene Services Section. Troopers were assisted at the scene by the Department of Transportation Highway Division.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — An East Longmeadow woman was sentenced on Monday afternoon in Berkshire Superior Court to prison for her role in a drunken-driving accident two years ago that killed a Becket man.

Catherine A. Rivet, 30, of Parker Street, pleaded guilty to single countes of motor vehicle homicide while under the influence of alcohol and operating to endanger, failure to stay in marked lanes, speeding and possession of marijuana.

Thomas A. Sacchetti Jr., 42, of Prince John Drive, was a passenger in Rivet's 1997 Ford Contour in the early morning hours of Oct. 11, 2008. She was driving at a high rate of speed along Route 20 near the Chester line when she lost control and flipped her car. Sacchetti was pronounced dead at the scene.

Judge John A. Agostini ordered Rivet to serve three to five years in the Massachusetts Correctional Institute at Framingham on the motor vehicle homicide charge, to be served concurrently with six months in House of Correction on the possession charge. She was found responsble for the two traffic charges.

The investigation was conducted by members of the Becket Police Department and accident reconstruction specialists assigned to the Massachusetts State Police.  

WASHINGTON, Mass. — A young man was killed early Saturday morning, June 26, in a single-car crash on Blotz Road.

State police say Chad Beeler, 26, was operating a 1989 Ford Mustang eastbound on Blotz Road when the car went off the road and rolled over, partially ejecting Beeler.

The crash was reported at 5:38 a.m. and troopers assigned to the Cheshire barracks responded to the scene. Beeler was fatally injured and pronounced dead at the scene. No further information was immediately available.

The preliminary investigation was done by Trooper Hanna Harbour and the circumstances of the crash remain under investigation by Troop B, with the assistance of the Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section and Crime Scene Services Section.
 

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A two-vehicle accident slowed traffic just west of the Stop & Shop on State Road on Thursday afternoon.

A small blue 2008 Honda Vivic sedan apparently collided with the back end of a Berkshire Gas van shortly after 1 p.m. Both vehicles were in the eastbound lane.

The driver was still in the car at 1:12  p.m. and speaking to police. An ambulance, several cruisers and two fire trucks were dispatched to the scene. The driver was taken to North Adams Regional Hospital with unknown injuries.  We'll update with more information later.

Update at 6:51 p.m.:

The driver of the Honda, Kathleen M. Casey, 59, of Williamstown was charged with reckless operation of the motor vehicle.

The driver of Berkshire Gas' 2001 Chevrolet Express Van was Craig F. Hamelin, 49,  of  Cheshire.

Both drivers were taken to North Adams Regional Hospital by North Adams Ambulance. The Honda was towed by Cariddi Auto and the van by Dean's Quality Auto. The accident was reported at 1:07 p.m.

Updated May 31, 2010, at 9:50 p.m.; edited and rewritten throughout.

FLORIDA, Mass. —  An accident early Saturday evening has resulted in the death of a Connecticut woman.

A state police spokesman said Hazel Lavallee, 71, of Enfield, Conn., died Monday morning of injuries sustained in the single-car crash.

Lavallee was a passenger in the 2004 Hyundai Sonata driven by her husband, Richard Lavallee, also 71. Both Lavallees were airlifted to Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center on Saturday night with severe injuries.

The single-car crash occurred around 6 p.m. across the from the Whitcomb Summit on the Mohawk Trail.

The Lavallees were eastbound on Route 2 when the he apparently lost control of car and veered off the road, shearing off a utility pole and flipping the car onto the driver's side. The vehicle came to rest in the grassy glade across the highway from the Whitcomb Summit Motel.

The couple were the only occupants and were taken to North Adams Regional Hospital; from there they were airlifted to Albany.

A state police spokesman said he was not aware if Lavallee had been moved from Albany since Saturday.  He confirmed that there had been a report of an erratic driver just four minutes before the crash.

The accident is under investigation by state police.

What is left of the utility is above. Right, emergency responders try to push over the car after the passengers were transported to the hospital.