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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Utility Pole Collision Closes East Street in Pittsfield

Staff Reports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — East Street north of Junction Road was closed off Monday afternoon after a vacuum truck apparently pulled down wires and at least one utility pole. 
 
The accident occurred just before 3 p.m. near J.H. Maxymillian Inc. and involved two other vehicles. 
 
Truck, branded to Maxymillian, apparently caught on a utility pole, pulling it down on top of cars. A second pole may also have affected. 
 
According to scanner reports, one of the poles "completely snapped" with a vehicle underneath it and wires were down in two locations.
 
A Hyundai Tucson's roof was smashed in at the rear and the back window broken. A Honda apparently hit or was hit by a pole based on the damage to its front end. 
 
The bottom of the pole was hanging near the Honda and the top appeared caught on the suction boom of the vacuum truck in the other lane. 
 
The Fire Department initially responded but cleared the scene about a half hour later. Both Verizon and Eversource responded to the scene. 
 
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