ADAMS, Mass. — The state police bomb squad was called to Airport Road on Thursday morning to investigate a cluster of pressurized bottles containing an unknown liquid.

Police Chief Richard Tarsa said police responded to the scene around 7:30 a.m. after a truck ran over one of the plastic bottles causing it to burst, making a loud sound.

Tarsa said the bottles were scattered in the road and contained some sort of chemical that caused them to pressurize, similar to a bottle of soda.

"We had a bottle that was pressurized and a vehicle drove over it and it erupted, which sounded like an explosion but was just the eruption of the device," the chief said. "It was not an explosive device. This is not an IED by any means. It's a sealed water bottle with a chemical in it that creates pressure."

Although there was no damage to the car or driver, Tarsa said the road was closed and Fire Department and the state police bomb squad were called to investigate.

There were three other bottles on the road. One was defective but the other two were live.

"The bomb squad came out and they used the robotic arm," he said. "It grabs the bottle and the arm is designed to depressurize the bottle by putting a hole in it and making it inactive."

The first bottle was successfully depressurized, however, the second had built up enough pressure that when the arm touched it, it burst.

Tarsa said the police are unsure who set the bottles and the incident is under investigation. He added that whoever placed the bottles set up an incredibly dangerous situation for themselves and those passing through the area.

"This is a stupid thing to do because whoever made these devices there was the ability for the bottles to go off in their hands and with chemicals, you are looking at chemical burns," Tarsa said. "And being in a roadway that is a place where a lot of people walk their dogs ... what happens if a dog latches on to it?"

Tarsa said the bottles were somewhat isolated on the rural road and in the end, everything was handled according to protocol, and there were no damages or injuries.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A 34-year-old Williamstown woman has been charged in an apparent hit-and-run accident on Cold Spring Road on Oct. 1, police announced on Wednesday.

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — A single-family home was saved Tuesday night by a joint effort of the Clarksburg and North Adams fire departments.

The departments were able to quickly snuff out the structure fire at 72 Farview Heights Road, near the border between the two communities.

Clarksburg Fire Chief Carlyle "Chipper" Chesbro Jr. said the call initially went to North Adams, which was the first to respond to Tuesday night at 8.

"North Adams did a great job getting up here and knocking it down for us," Chesbro said. "Then we came in with our engine and tanker and assisted."

North Adams Fire Director Stephen Meranti said he was first on the scene and was quickly able to find the source of the fire in the garage.

"We had smoke coming out of the first-floor front door," he said. "We pulled in a hand line and attacked the fire in the basement while we had a second line on the first floor. At that point, Clarksburg arrived and they stretched a backup line."

Chesbro said Clarksburg came on the scene with a tanker because there was not an available hydrant.

Meranti said they were able to knock down the fire immediately before it caused serious damage.

"It was knocked down within minutes upon our arrival but the house was still full of smoke so you couldn't see your hand in front of your face," he said.

Chesbro said the family was out of the house when firefighters arrived and were able to provide information immediately.

Although there is no serious structural damage, he said the family was advised to stay somewhere else for the time being.

There was some concern about the family's pet cat that escaped the blaze but was nowhere to be seen, but North Adams firefighter Alan Richer was able to find it.

Chesbro said the cause of the fire is under investigation but it did not look suspicious.

Meranti said North Adams Ambulance and Police as well as Clarksburg Police responded.

"It was good team work by everybody, and everyone worked well together," Meranti said. "It is a good example of two departments working together."

Robert Pearson graduated from McCann Technical School in 2015.
He is seen here with his mother in this image posted on a youcaring.com
page set up to help his family defray expenses.
 

CHESHIRE, Mass. — A Dalton teen was killed early Friday morning in a single-car accident on Fred Mason Road that injured four others.

Robert Pearson, 19, a passenger in the vehicle, was transported by ambulance to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, where he was pronounced deceased.

According to state police from the Cheshire Barracks, the crash occurred at about 12:52 a.m.

Preliminary investigation by Trooper Timothy Cooper indicates that a 2009 Nissan Altima operated by a 19-year-old Adams man was traveling south on Fred Mason Road when, for reasons still under investigation, it veered off the west side of the road. The Altima, which had a total of five occupants, collided with trees and rolled over onto its roof.

Two other passengers, a 22-year-old North Adams man and a 30-year-old North Adams man, suffered serious injuries and were transported to Berkshire Medical Center. The operator and another passenger, a 19-year-old woman from North Adams, suffered minor injuries and were transported to BMC as well.

Fred Mason Road was closed for five hours because of the accident.

The crash remains under investigation by Troop B with assistance from the state police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, Crime Scene Services Section and Detective Unit for Berkshire County. Also aiding at the scene were Cheshire Police, the Cheshire Fire Department, and the Adams Ambulance, North Adams Ambulance, and County Ambulance companies.

Both lanes of Fred Mason Road were closed for five hours to accommodate the rescue response and crash investigation. No further information is being released at this time.

A youcaring.com page has been set up to help the family defray the impending expenses.