Man Cited For Running Red Light In Crash Into Pittsfield Storefront

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police have cited the driver of the van than ran into a second street building for running a red light.

 

A Ford van driven by John Eckert crashed into J.M.S. Industrial Supply Wednesday morning after narrowly missing a collision with a Berkshire Regional Transit Authority bus. 

 

"After viewing the video tapes on the BRTA bus, he was found at fault for a red light violation," said Officer Michael Silver.

 

The officer said the BRTA van was heading east at the intersection when Eckert ran the red light as he was heading northbound. The two never collided but Eckert's effort to avoid that led to the crash.

 

"He swerved to miss [the van] and drove himself into the building," Silver said.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A motor vehicle accident at the corner of Second and Fenn streets sent a van smashing into the front of a hardware store.

 

The white van went through angled corner door of J.M.S. Industrial Supply at 289 Fenn, skimming a street light. The streetlight was ultimately pulled down as the van was towed from the scene by Sayers Auto Wrecking. 

 

The collision occurred just before 11 a.m. Police are still investigating the accident but say the Ford van operated by John Eckert was northbound before careening into the storefront.

 

Police say an eastbound Berkshire Regional Transit Authority van operated by Rebecca Whitaker was also involved in the accident but it is unclear exactly how. That van did not appear to have been damaged. 

 

No one was reported hurt but firefighters had to evacuate seven residents living in the building that runs along Second Street and utilities were shut off. Three people inside J.M.S. were evacuated as well. 

 

"We assisted in the evacuation of three people in the business," said Deputy Fire Chief Michael Polidoro. "The owner and two other people had to be extricated through the basement.

 

"The main door was obviously destroyed."

 

Polidoro said traffic would have to be rerouted around the intersection, particularly on the Fenn Street side, because the building's structure was compromised. Workers from the Department of Public Works helped with traffic control. 

 

"The road is going to have to be shut down on this side because of the potential collapse," he said.

 

City inspectors and the property manager were at the scene. Eversource was being contacted about restoring some electrical service to a section of the building.

 

"At this time, all the pieces have to come together [before people can go back in]," Polidoro said.

 

The property is owned by Alexander and Nancy Kolben of New York City, according to city records, and is valued at $168,500. The building has five residential units in addition to the storefront.