Truck Driver Facing Motor Vehicle Homicide Charge in Fatal Crash

09:21PM / Sunday, April 25, 2021Print Story | Email Story

Update 4:29 p.m., April 26: Stanley Kardys, 67, of West Granby, Conn., is facing a single count of motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation related to a collision on the Massachusetts Turnpike on Friday evening.

Kardys allegedly failed to brake properly when approaching slower traffic around the 14.8-mile mark in Becket at approximately 4:35 p.m. The tractor-trailer he was operating collided with the rear of a Toyota Camry driven by 69-year-old Gary Litwin, of Ludlow.

Litwin's vehicle subsequently collided with the rear of a Toyota Sienna, driven by Marinalva Silva, 39, of Springfield. EMS transported Litwin and his wife, Diane Litwin, 66, to Baystate Medical Center, where Gary Litwin died and Diane Litwin received medical treatment. EMS transported Silva to Berkshire Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

The court has not yet scheduled the arraignment.

BECKET, Mass. — A Ludlow man was killed Friday when his car was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer on the Massachusetts Turnpike.

Troopers from the state police barracks in Lee responded to a crash on the eastbound side of the MassPike in Becket at about 3:22 p.m. The crash involved a Freightliner tractor-trailer, a 2020 Toyota Camry, and a 2008 Toyota Sienna van.

Preliminary investigation by state police and the Berkshire District Attorney's Office indicates that the tractor-trailer was eastbound approaching Mile Marker 15 when traffic in front of the truck began to slow because of traffic. Evidence suggests the truck struck the rear of the Camry and pushed that car into the Sienna.

Both occupants of the Camry were transported to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. The operator, identified as Gary Litwin, 69, was pronounced deceased at the hospital. The passenger, a 66-year-old Ludlow woman, sustained serious injuries.

The operator of the tractor-trailer, a 67-year-old man from West Granby, Conn., was not injured. Following investigation by troopers and the DA's Office, he will be charged criminally. His name and the exact charges will be released by the DA's Office on Monday.

The operator of the Sienna, a 39-year-old West Springfield woman, was transported to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield for examination of possible injuries.

The investigation is being conducted by state police from Troop B, Detective Unit for Berkshire County, Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, Crime Scene Services Section, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section, and the DA's Office. Troopers were assisted on scene by Lee Fire and emergency medical services and the state Department of Transportation.

The rescue response and crash investigation required lane closures at various times until 8:40 p.m.

Tags: fatal, MassPike, motor vehicle accident, MVI,

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Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action.

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature."

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures.

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis.

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.

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