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Victim in Fatal Dragging Identified as Pittsfield Man

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police are searching for a suspect in a fatal hit-and-run on Tuesday. 
 
The victim was identified on Wednesday as William S. Colbert, 69, of Pittsfield.
 
His body was found nearly four miles away from where he was reportedly struck. 
 
The initial report was that someone was in the road, possibly struck by a motor vehicle, at the intersection of Linden Street and Francis Avenue at about 11:33 p.m.
 
According to the report filed by Sgt. David Hallas, officers were unable to locate either a victim or a vehicle at the intersection. They spoke with witnesses and canvassed the area. 
 
They found him in the road in the 1350 block of West Housatonic Street near the Best Western hotel. 
 
The victim was deceased. 
 
The investigation is pointing to the victim being struck at the Linden Street intersection and then trapped under the vehicle and dragged "to a final resting place" on West Housatonic. 
 
The driver of the vehicle fled the scene and is wanted by police. The car was described as a sedan, possibly a dark colored Toyota or Honda. 
 
It may have traveled on Linden Street, Robbins Avenue, Daniels Avenue, Columbus Avenue, Onota Street, South Merriam Street and West Housatonic. 
 
Police are asking that any information including footage from security cameras from between 11:33 and 11:49 p.m. be forwarded to dhallas@cityofpittsfield.org or adayton@cityofpittsfield.org or arrangements made for pickup. 
 
Hallas and Officer Anthony Dayton can also be reached 413-448-9700, Ext. 543 for Dayton and Ext. 560 for Hallas. 

Tags: fatal,   

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Pittsfield E-Bike Rider Injured in Collision

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A man on a motorbike was injured after being struck by a vehicle on Wahconah Street on Tuesday. 

Just before 3 p.m., police, firefighters and Action Ambulance were called to the 400 block of Wahconah Street, near the former Bel Air Dam, for a report that a pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle.

Upon arrival, first responders found a 22-year-old man, later identified as Girey Rivera of Memorial Drive, lying in the northbound lane with "obvious injuries." Police say he was struck by a vehicle operated by a Lanesborough resident. 

"Initial investigation showed that Rivera was actually riding an e-motorcycle southbound on Wahconah Street and attempted to move between stopped traffic to cross the northbound lane when he was struck by a 2014 Honda CRV being operated by Louis Baker of Lanesborough, traveling north," police wrote on Tuesday. 

"Baker was uninjured in the collision and Rivera was transported to Berkshire Medical Center with potentially life-threatening injuries."

Wahconah Street was closed for about four hours between Wilson Street and Bel Air Avenue while the accident was investigated and cleared up. The roadway was opened at around 7 p.m. 

Next to the roadway in this area is the site of the former abandoned Bel Air Dam, which contractors have been in the process of removing.

The accident remains under investigation by the Pittsfield Police Traffic Unit. Anyone who may have witnessed the accident or may have witnessed this vehicle traveling on Wahconah Street shortly before the accident is asked to contact Sergeant David Hallas at 448-9700 Ext. 560.

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