PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A 71-year-old woman was taken to Berkshire Medical Center for minor injuries Wednesday after a collision on East Housatonic Street.

 

According to Officer David Hallas, the woman was westbound on East Housatonic Street in an Oldsmobile Bravada when a Subaru Legacy, driven by a 35-year-old Great Barrington man ran the stop sign at Pomeroy Avenue and collided with the Oldsmobile.

 

"The driver of the Oldsmobile was transported to the hospital with minor injuries and the other driver was not injured," Hallas said.

 

The Oldsmobile veered and nearly struck a housing complex at that intersection, falling just a bit short. The building was not touched. The collision stymied traffic on the fairly well-traveled road for a short period of time before both vehicles were towed from the scene.

 

The accident is just one of many at that intersection over the years. Multiple petitions had been filed, and passed, by the City Council to make improvements to the intersection. For years, it was estimated that there was about one accident a month there. In 2004, the City Council approved a three-way stop sign to halt traffic on East Housatonic. In 2011, again the council approved a three-way intersection but neither petition had led to any changes.

 

In 2017, Ward 5 Councilor Donna Todd Rivers refiled the petition asking for something to be done. Particularly, she said "nine times out of 10" the accidents are caused by drivers on Pomeroy not stopping at the stop sign. 

 

Commissioner of Public Services David Turocy said at the time that a three-way stop sign wouldn't be a solution because of traffic volume -- people would learn to just blow through the stop sign on East Housatonic Street.

 

The Traffic Commission took up the issue and pushed for increased visibility of the stop signs, with Ward 4 Councilor Christopher Connell saying at the time that the trees and buildings essentially create a "tunnel" that makes it hard for drivers to see.

 

The commissioner agreed to trim the nearby tree to increase light and entertained the notion of taking it out completely, though removal requires much more red tape because shade trees are protected by state law.  The commission also considered calling for an overhead light to be installed there -- with a flashing red for vehicles northbound on Pomeroy and yellow for east and westbound traffic on East Housatonic but the cost led the idea to be shelved.

 

Turocy agreed to trim the trees and to put in a solar-powered light to warn drivers of the impending stop sign on Pomeroy. That light had been installed but still, the intersection clearly remains problematic.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police were busy in the wee hours of Sunday morning as officers responded to an armed robbery, an arson incident, and a shooting within a span of two hours.

 

Police say it began at about 12:30 a.m. when a black man, described as being 5-feet-10-inches tall robbed Alltown at gunpoint. The man escaped with an undisclosed amount of money. Anyone with information regarding that incident is asked to contact Detective Glenn Civello at 413-448-9700, Ext. 538.

 

Less than a half-hour later, police and firefighters responded to 82 Wendell Ave. for a report of a structure fire. There was a small fire on the porch that appeared to have been deliberately set, according to police. Witnesses said a man ran from the porch and then fled the area on a bicycle. He was described as being in his mid- to late 20s and wearing dark clothing and a long sleeve t-shirt. 

 

About an hour after that, at 1:44 a.m., a ShotSpotter activation sent officers to the area of Dewey Avenue and Madison Avenue.

 

Officers found several shell casings at the scene, "evidence that an individual may have been injured" and a vehicle struck by gunfire. However, no information was received confirming anyone of being shot — no injured party found nor reported at any area hospital. Anyone with information on that incident is asked to call the Pittsfield Police Department Detective Bureau at 413-448-9705.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Police are investigating shots that were fired in the Greylock Valley Apartments neighborhood on Thursday night.

 

"Officers did respond to the area of Angelli Street and Grant Street for report of several shots fired," wrote Police Chief Jason Wood in an email. "There is evidence leading us to believe a firearm was discharged."

 

The report of shots being fired was called into the police at 9:27 p.m. but no one who could implicated in the shooting was at the scene when police arrived. Wood did not say what evidence was found.  

 

"Fortunately, at this time, there does not appear to be any injuries to persons or property," he said. 

 

The incident is still under active investigation by the North Adams Police Detective Bureau and the state police Crime Prevention and Control Unit.

PERU, Mass. — A 53-year old woman who went missing from Hinsdale was found dead in a wooded area in Peru.

 

Jacqueline Coutinho went missing in May and a K9 search, foot patrols and a helicopter were unable to locate her. Authorities searched for weeks to no avail.

 

On Tuesday, loggers found a body in the woods about one mile off of Curtin Road. 

 

A cause of death has not been revealed but there were no signs of foul play, according to authorities. 

 

"Investigators have not uncovered any indications of foul play in Ms. Coutinho's disappearance or death, nor do we believe that there is any threat to public safety connected with this sad loss," District Attorney Andrea Harrington said in a prepared statement. 

 

"We send our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Ms. Coutinho. The District Attorney's Office deeply appreciates the extensive efforts made by law enforcement and volunteers during the search and recovery efforts."

 

The skeletal remains of Coutinho were found around 9:45 a.m. Tuesday and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed her identity on Wednesday. 

 

Coutinho was last seen on Smith Road at about 10:15 that May morning. She had been in Hinsdale for only about a prior month and was there with her sister.

 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A woman accused of lying to police during the investigation into the death of Asiyanna Jones was arraigned on Wednesday.

 

Dayanlee Bracero-Quirndo, 23, is being charged in Berkshire County Superior Court with two counts of misleading a police officer. She had previously been indicted in the case but failed to appear in court and a warrant was issued for her arrest. Bracero-Quirndo turned herself in to authorities.

 

She is the fourth person to face charges in relation to the 2017 shooting of the 22-year-old Jones on Dewey Avenue. A grand jury also indicted Carey Pilot, 46, Gary Linen, 39, and Elizabeth Perez, 27, on a charge of first-degree murder. The three are being held without bail. Pilot is facing an additional charge of intimidation of a witness and Perez is facing an additional charge of misleading police.

 

"The District Attorney's Office will continue to work in partnership with Pittsfield Police Department to hold these individuals responsible for the death of Asiyanna Jones and for obstructing justice," District Attorney Andrea Harrington said in a prepared statement. 

 

Jones was sitting in a vehicle in the area of 242 Dewey Avenue on October 2, 2017, when she was struck in the head by a bullet shortly before 11 p.m.