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West Street was closed for three hours between Tor Court and Roberta Road after a worker was struck and killed.

Worker Struck and Killed on West Street

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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The work site was in the eastbound lane of West Street. 
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A worker died Thursday after being struck by a vehicle in a construction zone on West Street.
 
Police say Shane Cassavant, 49, of Lanesborough was working in the roadway when he was struck by an eastbound 2015 Chevrolet Colorado operated by Edward Ladouceur, 87, of Pittsfield, who entered the construction zone.
 
Cassavant was taken to Berkshire Medical Center where he later died of his injuries. 
 
The crash was reported at about 7:52 a.m. in the area of  777 West St.; police, fire, and Action Ambulance responded.
 
Prior to the crash, the eastbound lane was closed to traffic for construction and vehicles were being directed into the westbound lane by a flagger just west of Tor Court. Police did not provide what work Cassavant was doing or who he was working for. 
 
The area of West Street between Roberta Road and Tor Court was closed to traffic for about three hours while the investigation and roadway cleanup was underway.
 
Police posted the road closure to Facebook on Thursday morning, reporting a serious motor vehicle accident involving a pedestrian. Berkshire Community College students were urged to seek alternative routes.
 
The incident remains under investigation by Police Officer David Hallas of the Traffic Unit. Any witnesses or individuals who drove through the construction zone prior to 7:50 a.m. are asked to contact Hallas at 413-448-9700.
 
Conversations on pedestrian safety have been centered on the West Street corridor this year after Pittsfield resident Shaloon Milord was struck and killed while crossing in front of Dorothy Amos Park in January.


 


Tags: fatal,   pedestrians,   

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Car Fire Briefly Shuts Down Section of North Street

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

The street was briefly shut down. 
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Firefighters responded to a car fire on Eagle Street at about 4 p.m. Monday.
 
The 1986 Chevrolet Camaro was parked next to Persip Park when it "blew up," according to a passerby. Firefighters swiftly put out the engine fire but the northbound lane of North Street was briefly shut down and traffic redirected.
 
The blaze that started in the engine compartment was small but smokey, with smoke visible looking north from Fenn Street. 
 
Fire Capt. Mitchell Keller said there were some flames, describing it as a "well involved car fire." He estimated it took about 10 minutes to put out. 
 
"The initial response was Engine 6, right here, because Engine 3, the closest engine was was on another call because of the close proximity to headquarters," he said, referring to the Columbus Avenue station. "Our deputy car two and truck company responded to make sure that the car was unoccupied and that there was no people requiring aid. And then they waited for the engine to get here to for fire extinguishment.
 
He said the cause was undetermined but not suspicious. No one was injured in the fire and authorities were trying to track down the owner.  
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