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Police and firefighters at a mock car crash in Dalton on Thursday morning designed as a warning to young people about drinking and driving.
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A dummy lies under a sheet stained to look like blood and a hearse from Dery Funeral Home completes the picture.
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Participants got up at 4:30 a.m. to put the scene together in time for buses to arrive at the high school.
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A banner at Wahconah High to bring home the message.

Dalton Mock Car Crash Urges Safe Decisions for Young Drivers

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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The 'driver' of the crashed vehicle is taken away by police as motorists and school buses drive slowly by. Public safety personnel are hoping that it sends a message about bad decisions. 
DALTON, Mass. — It was a tragic scene Thursday morning on Old Windsor Road.
 
A Honda sedan was head-on into a utility pole, its windshield smashed. Alcohol bottles littered the scene. Limbs peeked out from under two bloody sheets. A hearse was parked nearby, ready to take on passengers. 
 
And a young person was taken away in handcuffs. 
 
The incident was both a drill for police and firefighters and a theater in the round for students just down the road at Wahconah Regional High School. 
 
The mock car crash was staged in front of the Water Department to emphasize the importance of making safe decisions before getting behind the wheel.
 
The car was a wreck from LaRochelle Auto Restoration, the hearse from Dery Funeral home, and the victims bloodied dummies.
 
The fake arrest was to show what happens to drunk drivers.
 
"Obviously if we can save one person, that's well worth everyone getting out of bed at [4:30 a.m.] If we can save more than one, that's obviously better," Fire Chief James Peltier said.
 
"But this is all about awareness to make the right decision to probably step back from a potential wrong decision before it becomes life-altering, the awareness for the parents as they drive by to maybe have a conversation with their kids before they go out tonight or tomorrow or Monday or whatever it is, and then realistically to push everyone and have this in the forefront of their mind as they're getting ready for their prom or party or after-party."
 
A banner in front of Wahconah reads "Remember the night, don't regret the night, enjoy prom and stay safe!"
 
The prom is on May 31 and graduation on June 5.
 
Peltier described it as a portable theater as school buses and other traffic going to the high school must slow down to travel past.
 
Police Chief Deanna Strout said this is the first time the town has done such a display but similar demonstrations used to be held at the high school. The departments had planned to do a full demo that incorporated Wahconah's drama club but did not have the space due to ongoing construction.
 
Advance notice was given to the school and the community so that people wouldn't think it was real.
 
Strout and Peltier added that the town's Fire and Police Departments have a great partnership in the interest of public safety. The event was made possible by the various entities that came together for the cause.

Tags: emergency drill,   OUI,   public safety,   

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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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