STAMFORD, Vt. — A devastating tractor-trailer crash in Woodford, Vt., on Wednesday claimed the lives of two local men.
Jeffrey Lamore, 29, of Stamford and Thomas Peterson, 32, of Readsboro were killed when a tractor-trailer truck crushed their vehicle.
The driver of a second car, Paul Beebe, 53, was air flighted to Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition.
Police had withheld the names of Lamore and Peterson until Thursday afternoon because of difficulty indentifying their remains. Autopsies were performed on Thursday.
Sgt. Michael Marvin of the Vermont State Police said early Thursday morning that the men's families had been contacted on Wednesday.
The victims' car was engulfed in flames after being hit by the tractor-trailer truck at about 1:30 p.m. at the Route 9 bridge spanning City Stream just east of the town offices.
According to police, the tractor-trailer, driven by Kenneth A. Middlebusher, was heading west on Route 9 when his load shifted coming around the turn leading onto the bridge. The truck swerved into the eastbound lane, striking the victims' car, then continued sliding into a second vehicle, trapping its driver inside.
The Lamore and Peterson were declared dead at the scene, according to the Bennington Banner. It reportedly took firefighters more than an hour to remove the driver from the second vehicle.
Middlebusher was able to walk away from the scene.
Middlebusher, 42, of Deptford, N.J., pleaded not guilty in Vermont District Court in Bennington on Thursday afternoon to charges of gross and negligent operation of a motor vehicle resulting in a fatality.
He is being held at Marble Valley Correctional Center in Rutland on $50,000 bail.
The police report, filed by Cpl. Gary Shuhart, said the conditions were dry and clear at the time of the accident. Police are saying speed may also have been a factor. Route 9, also known as the Molly Stark Trail, drops steeply from Woodford Mountain into the valley below. A sign at the top of the mountain warns drivers of the curving descent.
According to WTEN Channel 10 News in Albany, police said the truck tipped over when its 32-ton load of unsecured paper shifted in the trailer as Middlebusher attempted to negotiate the righthand curve onto the bridge. The truck was reportedly traveling 20 mph faster than it should have been.
Witnesses at the scene told the Banner that another motorist had aided Middlebusher getting out of his cab then went back into the cab and grabbed a fire extinguisher to prevent the second car from igniting.
Channel 10 News reported Thursday evening that Middlebusher had told police he was aware his load wasn't properly secured when he left Brattleboro.
The road was closed for several hours while the accident was cleared.
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Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
I do not understand why someone would feel the need to post this video. Family and friends of the two men do not need to see this. It is hard enough to have lost a loved one, but to have to see the cars trapped under the truck is too much to see. I would hope that iBerkshires would have more journalistic integrity than that.
I am completely mortified and appalled that iberkshires would broadcast such a tragedy for public entertainment! You need to take it off of your web site and have show some decency and respect for the families of the two deceased persons!!!!
I understand that the families of the casualties may not appreciate the video but the news camera has no conscience. And after all IT's NEWS !!!!
No one will force them to watch it just as no one forced you to watch it.
iberkshires, you shouldn’t be ashamed for posting this video, you should be ashamed for its vial content and your absolute disdain for editing!!!! This video is sickening, particularly from seconds 19 through 21 where the revolting commentary of “They gotta just be fried†can be clearly heard.
Absolutely revolting iBerkshires, please do the right thing and edit this video and truly redeem yourself as an upright and respectable media outlet that we all have come to enjoy and respect, versus supermarket tabloid rag sheet this article/video has now portrayed you as. Thank you.
If this was on the news while you were watching TV would you still feel it is wrong to tell the story? I think the fact that it is a heartbreaking tragedy is what makes people feel the story should not be on iBerkshires.com. iBerkshires.com is a news source like the newspaper, radio, and Television.
From the Editor: iBerkshires.com welcomes comments from our readers, whether they agree with our decisions or not. We are a news site and cover the good, the bad and the tragic - that's our job. The video, from the Bennington Banner, has an obviously shaken and horrified witness to the aftermath to the accident. His comment should be taken in that light. It's a tough call in these instances on how much to report; we've declined to state the full circumstances of the deaths of these young men, as was done on local TV. However, Mr. Steffen's interview certainly conveys that it was very, very tragic.
People need to grow up. Death is fact of life. It can happen at any moment. Maybe we should be reminded more often, how fragile ones life is. Then maybe we would not do the stupid things we do!!!!!
First to “Realâ€, you are enormously missing the point, I highly doubt Channel 10 or 13, The Berkshire Eagle or the Bennington Banner would report on how the victims “must be fried†from this accident.
Actually, I believe iBerkshire’s including video in their stories adds a pleasant element to their reporting. However, I believe a certain degree of editing should be considered before posting raw material without the consideration of what the impact may be on the viewing public. I personally do not consider iBerkshires a tasteless website such as the many “shock†sites that pollute the net. However, if they post unedited videos without any thought, one must ask what type of media outlet they genuinely are.
To the iBerkshires editor, I thank you for your response and I believe you did not intend to aid in the suffering of the family and friends of the victim(s). I agree your job is difficult, I simply ask you to consider my point of view as I will certainly consider yours. I would again remind you of the three (3) seconds of tape (19-21seconds) and again ask you if you believe as responsible journalists that the commentary is appropriate or necessary for a news story.
Again, your posting of these comments which may differ from your own opinion is extraordinarily commendable and deserves its own attention. I thank you for this opportunity to speak my own mind and I believe we should all now concentrate our thoughts and prayers on the family and loved ones of the victims of this horrific crash.
two good people were tragically killed and all you are arguing about is what was said in the video? How about putting all of this anger towards the truck driver whom apparently stated that he knew his truck load was not properly secured and was ultimately the cause for this accident? He's the jerk who took these two men away from their friends and family and i hope he has the thoughts of these men being killed in his head for the rest of his life.
I knew Jeff real well - graduated HS with him. He was a good kid and always nice to me. I hadn't seen him in quite a few years but ironically enough ran into him just this past Monday at my gym...which makes this all the more weird to me. Thoughts and prayers to him and the other victims' friends & family.
Dear iberkshire readers, The news is the news. It is sometimes brutal and surreal. I would ask you all to remember Jeff and Tom in the postive way we all knew and loved them. Remember its not about the cruelty of life, but the lives we knew and loved.
People get a life it happens all the time. It's news. Also the T.V. stations did say what happened to the victims, you just did not want to listen to the real facts. You people never say anything when something happens some place else as tragic as this and it posted thats OK but this is not. Face the facts. Life man
As a former member of the local media, I want to share that the newspapers and other news sources did do their job while reporting on the tragic Woodford accident. However, I would also like to share that while the Bennington Banner was preparing its' front-page, graphic [and single-copy sales generating]news coverage of this horrible accident, its' sister newspaper, the Berkshire Eagle, was making the publication of the obituary of an accident victim, Jeffrey Lamore, very, very difficult for the Lamore family. I would suggest that since local newspapers assert both the right and the need to deliver graphic, sensational, photographic coverage of events such as this, the very least they could do is show some compassion and cooperation when the grieving families are trying to say good-bye to their loved ones. The conduct at the Eagle left quite a bit to be desired.
Anonymous: Allow me to quote myself from my last post: “and I believe we should all now concentrate our thoughts and prayers on the family and loved ones of the victims of this horrific crash.†So, I guess we agree.
Additionally, to everyone who has posted the commentary such as “this is life†“this happens everywhere else†blah blah blah, I have never once argued this, you people need to actually read what I wrote (for some of you, more than once) comprehend it, and then you will truly understand what I am saying….DO SOME EDITING!!!!!!!!!!
I have never once advocated for the censorship of our media. Furthermore, allow me to provide you with a constitutional law lesson; Anyone (yes media included) can take a picture of anything as long as they are in a legal place (public area, public street, public sidewalk, anywhere the public has a right to be in) and is taking a photograph of someone/something where there is no expectation of privacy (being in a public place) This is simply for photography, not audio transmissions that may fall under a state or federal wiretap statute.
Our media possesses a tremendous amount of influence. This great responsibility and control should never be taken for granted, and should always be dispersed with the greatest amount of equality, honesty and decency.
Again, let us all focus our thoughts and prayers on everyone involved in this terrible situation.
I and my family have been victimized by the callous and insensitive nature of some of our local media as well. Freedom of the press and all of it's applications were made a part of our bill of rights at a time when the press was a town crier or scribe and photography was futuristic fantasy. They say a pictue is worth a thousand words....I'll take the words. I, for one, do make the choice not to tune in to sensationalistic, tabloid-orient journalism bent on profiting from the misfortunes of others. Yes, you can hide behind the cloak of "the news" but you must have a cast-iron conscience if you can sleep at night knowing you hurt someone or some family psychologically or emotionally through your insensitive actions. I do know how to affect the media and that is by pulling advertising....I advertise with I-Berkshires and I will pull such advertising and will encourage my local business brethren to do the same if another video of this nature is ever run again.
The New England Newspapers obituary policy, which impacts those who deal with the Bennington Banner, the North Adams Transcript, the Brattleboro Reformer and the Berkshire Eagle is most unfriendly. The cost is ridiculous, and here is something to think about: while the Lamore family was being rudely treated at a time of tragedy by Eagle staff, the Bennington Banner was making money from the sale of papers reporting about the accident. I don't see that iberkshires has responded much better; they are using news from other sources and calling it a "staff report." It is time for people to seriously consider where and how they spend their advertising dollars. The sad truth is, the next accident may involve your family and the local media will treat you equally poorly. There was a time when the local reporters and media had some element of care and concern about how things were presented but the those with a conscience have been replaced by those with greedy, cold souls.
Crosby/Conte Statement of Interest Gets OK From Council
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
Architect Carl Franceschi and Superintendent Joseph Curtis address the City Council on Tuesday.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — With the approval of all necessary bodies, the school district will submit a statement of interest for a combined build on the site of Crosby Elementary School.
The City Council on Tuesday unanimously gave Superintendent Joseph Curtis the green light for the SOI to the Massachusetts School Building Authority by April 12.
"The statement I would make is we should have learned by our mistakes in the past," Mayor Peter Marchetti said.
"Twenty years ago, we could have built a wastewater treatment plant a lot cheaper than we could a couple of years ago and we can wait 10 years and get in line to build a new school or we can start now and, hopefully, when we get into that process and be able to do it cheaper then we can do a decade from now."
The proposal rebuilds Conte Community School and Crosby on the West Street site with shared facilities, as both have outdated campuses, insufficient layouts, and need significant repair. A rough timeline shows a feasibility study in 2026 with design and construction ranging from 2027 to 2028.
Following the SOI, the next step would be a feasibility study to determine the specific needs and parameters of the project, costing about $1.5 million and partially covered by the state. There is a potential for 80 percent reimbursement through the MSBA, who will decide on the project by the end of the year.
Earlier this month, city officials took a tour of both schools — some were shocked at the conditions students are learning in.
Silvio O. Conte Community School, built in 1974, is a 69,500 square foot open-concept facility that was popular in the 1960s and 1970s but the quad classroom layout poses educational and security risks. John C. Crosby Elementary School, built in 1962, is about 69,800 square feet and was built as a junior high school so several aspects had to be adapted for elementary use.
Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi said the walkthrough was "striking" at points, particularly at Conte, and had her thinking there was no way she would want her child educated there. She recognized that not everyone has the ability to choose where their child goes to school and "we need to do better."
"The two facilities that we are looking at I think are a great place to start," she said.
"As the Ward 6 councilor, this is where my residents and my students are going to school so selfishly yes, I want to see this project happen but looking at how we are educating Pittsfield students, this is going to give us a big bang for our buck and it's going to help improve the educational experience of a vast group of students in our city."
During the tour, Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey, saw where it could be difficult to pay attention in an open classroom with so much going on and imagined the struggle for students.
Councilor at Large Alisa Costa said, "we cannot afford not to do this" because the city needs schools that people want their children to attend.
"I know that every financial decision we make is tough but we have to figure this out. If the roof on your house were crumbling in, you'd have to figure it out and that's where we're at and we can't afford to wait any longer," she said.
"We can't afford for the sake of the children going to our schools, for the sake of our city that we want to see grow so we have to build a city where people want to go."
Councilor at Large Kathy Amuso, who served on the School Building Needs Commission for about 18 years, pointed out that the panel identified a need to address Conte in 2008.
Curtis addressed questions about the fate of Conte if the build were to happen, explaining that it could be kept as an active space for community use, house the Eagle Academy or the Adult Learning Center, or house the central offices.
School attendance zones are a point of discussion for the entire school district and for this project.
"At one time I think we had 36 school buildings and now we have essentially 12 and then it would go down again but in a thoughtful way," Curtis said.
Currently, eight attendance zones designate where a student will go to elementary school. Part of the vision is to collapse those zones into three with hopes of building a plan that incorporates partner schools in each attendance zone.
"I think that going from eight schools to three would be easier to maintain and I think it would make more sense but in order to get there we will have to build these buildings and we will have to spend money," Kavey said, hoping that the city would receive the 80 percent reimbursement it is vying for.
This plan for West Street, which is subject to change, has the potential to house grades pre-kindergarten to first grade in one school and Grades 2 to 4 in another with both having their own identities and administrations.
The districtwide vision for middle school students is to divide all students into a grade five and six school and a grade seven and eight school to ensure equity.
"The vagueness of what that looks like is worrisome to some folks that I have talked to," Lampiasi said.
Curtis emphasized that these changes would have to be voted on by the School Committee and include public input.
"We've talked about it conceptually just to illustrate a possible grade span allocation," he said. "No decisions have been made at all by the School Committee, even the grade-span proposals."
School Committee Chair William Cameron said it is civic duty of the committee and council to move forward with the SOI.
He explained that when seven of the city's schools were renovated in the late 1990s, the community schools were only 25 years old and Crosby was 35 years old. The commonwealth did not deem them to be sorely in need of renovation or replacement.
"Now 25 years later, Crosby is physically decrepit and an eyesore. It houses students ages three to 11 in a facility meant for use by teenagers,"
"Conte and Morningside opened in the mid-1970s. They were built as then state-of-the-art schools featuring large elongated rectangles of open instructional space. Over almost half a century, these physical arrangements have proven to be inadequate for teaching core academic skills effectively to students, many of whom need extra services and a distraction-free environment if they are to realize their full academic potential."
He said the proposal addresses a serious problem in the "economically poorest, most ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse area" of the city.
Cameron added that these facilities have been deemed unsatisfactory and need to be replaced as part of the project to reimagine how the city can best meet the educational needs of its students. He said it is the local government's job to move this project forward to ensure that children learn in an environment that is conducive to their thriving academically.
"The process of meeting this responsibility needs to begin here tonight," he said.
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