PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A motorcyclist died in a hit and run accident on Linden Street Friday evening.

 

Police say Alan Keefe, 49, of Pittsfield was eastbound on Linden Street on a Harley Davidson when he collided with a Dodge pickup truck. The driver of the pickup was traveling westbound and was taking a turn onto John Street at the time.

 

Keefe was taken to Berkshire Medical Center and later died because of the injuries. The driver of the 2002 pickup truck fled the scene. The truck was located on South John Street but the operator left the area on foot toward West Street.

 

Police say they have tracked down the owner of the vehicle but have not found out who was operating the vehicle at the time. Police are asking for anyone with information to contact the department.

 

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Great Barrington Fire Department responded toa chemical spill at Monument Mountain Regional High School on Thursday. 

 

Just after 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 23, the department responded to the 600 Stockbridge Road school after the spill was reported in one of the science labs.

 

Upon arrival, firefighters learned that approximately two liters of ammonium hydroxide, a solution that in high concentrations can aggravate the nose, throat and respiratory tract, was knocked over by a teacher who was working in the lab, said Chief Charles Burger.

 

The state Hazardous Materials Emergency Response team was called for assistance, and crews worked together to neutralize the solution and ventilate the building. Atmospheric and surface testing came back safe, and occupants were allowed to reenter the building. An environmental cleanup company will finish the remediation prior to the start of school next week.

 

At the time of the spill, only few people were in the building and were immediately evacuated. The teacher was exposed to the chemical solution. She was evaluated on scene by Southern Berkshire Ambulance and declined further medical treatment.

 

"Thankfully this was a very minor incident," Burger said. "We want to assure students, parents, faculty and community members that there is no health threat and the building is safe to occupy."

 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Pittsfield man is facing charges of attempted murder and kidnapping related to a shooting early Tuesday morning that left another man in critical condition. 

 

The court has impounded all information regarding the shooting, including the name of the victim and the circumstances surrounding the shooting, until Sept. 25. 

 

Kevin Nieves, 19, of Robbins Avenue was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on Wednesday morning on single counts of armed assault with intent to murder; illegal possession of a firearm; kidnapping; and assault and battery. He was ordered held at the Berkshire County House of Corrections without the right to bail. Nieves had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf.

 

Nieves, who will be back in court for a pretrial conference on Sept. 20, is accused of shooting the 19-year-old victim near Ashley Reservoir in Washington at about 1 a.m. on Tuesday. The victim, from Cheshire, was taken to Berkshire Medical Center and underwent surgery. He was listed in critical condition on Tuesday. 

 

He appeared before Judge Jacklyn Connly of Northampton District Court in Hampshire County. 

 

Nieves has prior charges related to domestic assaults, one last year and one in February for which bail was also revoked. Nieves is accused of assaulting his girlfriend in February and was ordered to enter an anger management program; that case had been continued without a finding until Aug. 27.

 

Anyone with information relevant to the shooting is asked to contact state police detectives at 413-499-1112.

BENNINGTON, Vt. — A Pownal man is being charged with calling in a bomb threat that caused Southwestern Vermont Medical Center's Pownal campus to declare a lockdown last week. 

 

Allen L. Spaulding, 33, of Route 7 was charged with false public alarm violation and ordered to appear in Superior Court's Criminal Division on Oct. 1.

 

Spaulding is accused of making a threatening call via a cell phone on Aug. 14 at about 9:24 a.m. to the facility on Route 7 just north of the Massachusetts line. According to State Trooper Shawn Sommers, Spaulding was "located at a later date" and issued the citation to appear in court.  

PITTSFIELD, Mass. - Police arrested a Pittsfield man for a shooting on October Mountain.

 

Kevin Nieves, 19, was arrested shortly before 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. He will be charged with single counts of armed assault with intent to murder, illegal possession of a firearm, kidnapping, and assault and battery. He is expected to be arraigned in court Wednesday morning.

 

Police say at about 1 a.m. authorities responded to a report of the 19-year-old Cheshire man being shot near the Ashley Reservoir. He was transported to Berkshire Medical Center where he underwent surgery and is currently listed in critical condition.

 

The district attorney's office issued a statement Tuesday afternoon saying the case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call state police at 413-499-1112.