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Authorities could not speak to any injuries from the incident in Great Barrington where a car went through an outdoor display.

Car Crashes Through Taft Farms Plant Display

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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An employee sets up caution tape at Taft Farms where a vehicle went through the plant display. 

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Police are investigating an incident in which a vehicle plowed through an outside display at Taft Farms. 

Shortly before 2 p.m. on Wednesday, police received the call of a crash at the farm.  A car had driven through the outdoor plant section of the farm store on Park Street.  

About an hour later, employees were cleaning up a car-sized hole in the cement divider, and that section of plants was gone, but the business was operating seemingly as normal.  Those involved with the incident had left. 

Police said the cause and any injuries are currently unknown, as the incident is under investigation.  Because it involves a minor, the business owner and police would not comment further. 

Taft Farms thanked first responders and good Samaritans over Facebook and praised the community. 



"We would like to send a huge THANK YOU to the Great Barrington Police Department, Great Barrington Fire Department, Housatonic Fire Department, Southern Berkshire Ambulance Squad and all the agencies that responded quickly and professionally to the accident at our store," the post read. 

"Thank you as well to the MANY good Samaritans who stepped in to help until officers and EMTs responded. We live in a fantastic community with many dedicated public servants."

They asked that, out of respect for those involved, people refrain from posting "claims about what happened online." 

Initial reports from someone listening to the scanner and posting on Facebook was that the vehicle had gone into the building and injured multiple pedestrians. 

"It could have easily been much worse than it was, but since minors were involved, please respect their privacy," the Taft Farms post read. 


Tags: motor vehicle accident,   

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Elevated Mercury Level Found in Center Pond Fish

BECKET, Mass. — The state Department of Public Health has issued an advisory after a mercury-contaminated fish was found in Center Pond. 
 
According to a letter sent to the local Board of Health from the Division of Environmental Toxicology, Hazard Assessment and Prevention, elevated levels of mercury were measured in the sample taken from the pond. 
 
The concentration in the fish exceeded DPH's action level of 0.5 milligrams per kilogram, or parts per million. 
 
"This indicates that daily consumption of fish from the waterbody may pose a health concern. Therefore, DPH has issued a FCA for Center Pond recommending that sensitive populations should not eat chain pickerel and all other people should limit consumption of chain pickerel to 2 meals/month," the letter states.
 
The letter specifically points to chain pickerel, but the 60-acre pond also has largemouth and smallmouth bass and yellow perch.
 
The "sensitive populations" include children younger than 12, those who are nursing, pregnant, or who may become pregnant.
 
The Toxicology Division recommends reducing intake of "large, predatory fish" or fish that feed on the bottoms of waterbodies, such as largemouth bass and carp. More information on safely eating fish can be found here
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