POWNAL, Vt. — A Pownal woman escaped serious injury on Tuesday afternoon after losing control of her sport utility vehicle and landing in a ditch.

State Police Trooper Justin Walker said snow and icy conditions on Madison Road contributed the accident, which occurred at about 3:55 p.m.

Sarah Waters, 20, was driving her 2003 Toyota Highlander along Madison Road near the Hidden Valley Road intersection when she lost traction, slid into a ditch and rolled the vehicle.

Waters, who was wearing a seat belt, was taken to Southern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington for precautionary reasons. The Highlander incurred scratches and dents to the front fender. The Pownal Fire Department also responded to the scene.

The Vermont State Police are reminding drivers to use caution and to use proper winter tires as the winter weather sets in. The investigation remains active

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A city man was arraigned in Berkshire Superior Court on charges related to an October stabbing that sent one man to the to intensive care unit.

Tony Babcock, 25, of Second Street had not guilty pleas entered on his behalf on single counts of armed assault with intent to murder and aggravated assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon.

He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $10,000 bail.

Babcock is accused of stabbing a 28-year-old man on Second Street the night of Oct. 24. The victim was transported to Berkshire Medical Center where he underwent emergency surgery and placed in the intensive care unit.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Eight people were arrested Tuesday during a heroin bust in Mohawk Forest.

According to the police log, two people were arrested on warrants during the 2 p.m. bust and six others were arrested on being present where heroin-is-kept charges.

Those arrested include Derrick Witter, 31, Christopher Gaynor, 27, and Hammad Singleton, 36, all of Bronx, N.Y.; Johnte Smith, 25, no address given; Carla Robinson, 58, of Springfield; Jaycee Bressette, 22, of Pownal Vt., Ronni Hart, 31, of Barbour Street and Paul P. Dugal Jr., 51, of Mohawk Forest.

Witter and Smith were arrested on warrants and were in Berkshire Superior Court on Wednesday.

Witter has not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf on two counts of intimidation of a witness and a single count of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon. He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $70,000 cash or $700,000 surety bail. Those incidents allegedly occurred in North Adams between July 17 and July 29, 2013, and involved a 40-year-old woman.

Smith had not-guilty pleas entered on his behalf on three counts of assault and battery and single counts of aggravated rape, assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon and intimidation of a witness. He was ordered to be held at the Berkshire County House of Correction on $50,000 cash or $500,000 surety bail. The incidents allegedly occurred in North Adam between April 30 and July 17, 2013, and involved a 40-year-old woman.

No further information was immediately available.

Updated on November 27, 2013 at 10:40 a.m. with the court actions.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police seized a stolen firearm during a traffic stop Tuesday morning.

Police posted on Facebook that a car was stopped for traffic violations at 10:20 a.m. and the driver was unable to produce a license. The investigation led to the seizure of a loaded firearm that was reportedly stolen.
 

A two-vehicle accident closed Curran Highway on Tuesday.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Curran Highway was closed shortly after 11 a.m. on Tuesday after a state Department of Transportation truck sheared off a utility pole in front of South Side Sales & Service and Mr. Tire.

Police are reporting that the northbound state truck attempted to avoid the southbound sedan, which was making a lefthand turn. The driver of the sedan was cited. It was initially believed that both vehicles were heading in the same direction.

The highway was closed because it was feared the heavy utility pole could pull down the poles on each side of it. At least three National Grid trucks and crews were at the scene to the replace the pole and move the lines and transformers.

Authorities had hoped to have the road open by 1 p.m.

Police and emergency responders were still at the scene at about 12:30 p.m. The truck had been removed from the pole. One ambulance had left the scene but another was still there. It was not clear how many people had been in the vehicles but none of the occupants were transported to the hospital.

The truck and car, which has Vermont plates, suffered significant front-end damage. Traffic was being detoured over Old State Street, behind United Cerebral Palsy.

At the time of the crash, Mr. Tire was filled to capacity with motorists trying to get snow tires on their cars; South Side Sales & Service had several pieces of equipment displayed around the pole. That stretch also includes Dean's Quality Auto & Truck repair and towing, which removed the truck from the scene.