More than 600 Participate in Steel Rail Races

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- Matthew Ferraro was the first runner across the finish line at the MountainOne Steel Rail Marathon.
 
Ferraro clocked a time of 2 hours, 41 minutes flat on the Ashuwilticook Rail Trail course.
 
He finished a little more than five minutes ahead of runner-up Nick Reid (2:46:15).
 
Simone Veale won the race's women's division in a time of 3:18:42. She beat out Jill Hussain, who covered the course in 3:27:23.
 
The fastest marathoner on Sunday was Stephen Gulley, a hand cyclist, who clocked a time of 2:15:03.
 
The 26.2-mile circuit was covered by 150 finishers ranging in age from 18 (William Hanley in 14th place) to 72 (Ric Nudell, who finished in 6:04:47).
 
The day also featured a half-marathon and an 8-kilometer race.
 
Mark Rabasco won the half-marathon in 1:18:41, edging Vincent Gauthier (1:22:38).
 
Kat Morrissey placed third overall in 1:23:43 and first among women in the half-marathon, which had 213 finishers.
 
Abigail Chaloux was the fastest woman in the 8K, crossing the finish line in 35:52, six seconds ahead of Caroline Kessler; the two women were ninth and 10th, respectively, overall in a field of 171 finishers.
 
Peter Hale had the fastest 8K time, 27:42. Erik Kessler was second in 30:32.
 
More than 600 people registered for Sunday's races, a record for the Berkshire Running Foundation event. Runners from 24 different states signed up to run.
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Nine Injured in Washington Mountain Road Crash, Prompting Mass-Casualty Response

Staff ReportsiBerkshires
DALTON, Mass. — Local public safety personnel responded to a mass-casualty incident Sunday on Washington Mountain Road based on the number of patients although the injuries were reported to be "minor."
 
At approximately 12:52 p.m., the Fire Department was dispatched to the scene for a report of a multi-vehicle rollover accident. 
 
At the time of the initial response, three patients were reporting injuries. However, after further assessment, first responders determined that there were a total of nine — prompting a mass-casualty incident response, the Fire Department said in a Facebook post. 
 
A Jeep Cherokee driven by Anthony Stracuzzi, 27, was traveling north toward Dalton when it crashed into a Jeep Wrangler because of improper equipment. 
 
Stracuzzi will be cited for the crash, Police Chief Deanna Strout said. At this time, the crash is still under investigation.
 
Stracuzzi’s vehicle was carrying three adult passengers and a baby. The Jeep Wrangler was driven by a 34-year-old man and had two juvenile passengers.
 
No life threatening injuries were sustained, however some injuries were more serious than others, Strout said. 
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