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Chaircar Van Collides With Two House in North Adams
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A County Ambulance Chaircar Service van crashed through the corner of one house and into another on State Road early Friday afternoon after the driver fell unconscious.
"Apparently the driver had some type of medical episode and slumped over and the vehicle proceeded to drive right off the road," Police Director Michael Cozzagio said. "The driver was pulled out of the van, CPR was in progress and they are transporting him to the hospital, unknown on his condition."
There was one passenger in the van in a wheelchair who was being taken to a medical appointment. The passenger had been strapped in securely but was shaken up, Cozzaglio said, and also was taken to the hospital as a precaution.
"He appeared to be OK but he was shaken up having just had a conversation with the driver, he witnessed the event," he said. "The driver suddenly slumped over and the accident occurred."
There were occupants in the two houses but no one else was injured.
The Ford van was heading east at about 12:35 p.m. when it appears to have jumped the curb near Grant Street; tire tracks could be seen in the grass as it crossed several lawns and plowed into the east corner of 284 State Road, then through a simple fence and came to rest on the corner of 282 State Road.
Both single-family homes incurred damage, but 284 State suffered the worst. The east column of an enclosed porched was ripped out and the entire enclosure, including the front door, pulled away from the main building.
Building Inspector William Meranti inspected the building and found no further damage to the main structure. Fire Director Stephen Meranti said the power had been turned off but an electrician was hand to restore it so the homeowners could stay.
The house at 282 State appeared to have minimal damage to the west corner of an enclosed porch although several concrete blocks in the foundation were pushed in.
The State Road accident came on the heels of two other more minor accidents, one at River and Canal and another on Church Street, all within 20 minutes or so.
State Road was reduced to the westbound lane for about an hour. The van was towed by Mohawk Auto Wrecking.
Updated at 2:15 p.m.: complete write-thru
Head-on Collision on Beaver Street Injures Three
Update 9 p.m., Sept. 29:
Deborah Ernst, 60, driver of the Murano, is being charged for operating under the influence of alcohol and has been determined to be at fault for the accident. Ernst is a resident of Readsboro, Vt., and was operating her father's vehicle.
The driver and passenger of the minivan were both women in their 40s; one incurred head injuries and one chest injuries. Both were taken to BMC in Pittsfield. Ernst was taken to SVMC at her request for neck, back and shoulder injuries. None of the injuries were life-threatening, Sgt. James Burdick said
Both vehicles were totaled, and the sergeant said speed was not a factor in the accident.
"This is the first time that I know of there was an accident there," Burdick said of concerns raised about the jersey barriers that have been in place for three years. "This was because of drinking."
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A head-on collision on Beaver Street Thursday night injured three people and will result in charges for one of the drivers.
The crash occurred about 11:20 p.m. and came over the scanner as a motor vehicle versus jersey barriers. Then dispatch called for more ambulances.
A 2007 gray Nissan Murano with South Carolina plates was headed north on Beaver when it apparently scraped along the side of the concrete jersey barriers still up from the embankment collapse three years ago.
The Murano's driver apparently tried to correct and veered into the south lane and directly into the path of a southbound dark gray Ford Windstar. The driver of the Murano and the driver and occupant of the minivan were all taken by ambulance; two went Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield and a third to Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington.
A nearby resident who heard the collission from his home was first on the scene and said he turned off one of the cars and helped the driver of the Murano out.
Both vehicles sustained significant front-end damage and the airbags appear to have gone off in both.
Sgt. James Burdick said charges are pending against the driver of the Murano.
North Adams and state police, the Fire Department and North Adams Ambulance responded. Dean's Quality Auto and Cariddi Auto towed the vehicles from the scene. The road was reopened after about an hour.
Missing Williamstown Woman Located
UPDATE: At a little after 9 a.m. Friday morning, Williamstown Police Chief Kyle Johnson reported Ms. Coll had been located and is alert and conscious.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- Wllliamstown Police are asking for help in finding Marilyn Coll, 84, who was last seen Wednesday evening around 5 p.m. on Stone Hill Road.
Anyone with information, please call Williamstown Police at 413-458-5733.
Searching has resumed in this area Friday morning, according to a post on the department's Facebook page.
Pittsfield Man Shot On Linden Street
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A 24-year-old man was shot on Linden Street early Thursday morning.
Police say ShotSpotter notified officers of gunfire on upper Linden Street around 1 a.m. Responding officers did not find anything there but were quickly diverted to Berkshire Medical Center for a report of a victim with a gunshot wound.
The victim had one wound and his injury was non-life threatening. The detective bureau and patrol units recovered evidence of a shooting back on upper Linden.
The shooting is currently under investigation and police issued no further details.
Superior Court Briefs: Sept. 11 - Sept. 14
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Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, September 11.
Robert Brady III, 35, of Pittsfield pleaded guilty to single counts of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and conspiracy to violate drug laws.
He was released on $500 bail pending sentencing on Sept. 28. The charges stem from the execution of a search warrant on Burbank Street in Pittsfield on April 14, 2016.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Thursday, September 14.
John Despard, 34, of Pittsfield had a not guilty plea entered on his behalf on a single count of trafficking in heroin. He was released on $2,000 bail.
The charges stem from a motor vehicle stop in Pittsfield on August 15, 2016.
