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.
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Truck Crashes Into Pittsfield's Samel's Deli
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
Elm Street will be partially closed as cleanup continues.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Wednesday morning was busy for Pittsfield first responders, as a pickup truck crashed into Samel's Deli & Catering and a fire broke out on First Street.
Around 9:45 a.m., the police reported that the street in front of Samel's Deli & Catering would be closed or down to one lane as a result of a two-car collision that sent the truck careening into the deli.
The department posted two photos on Facebook, one depicting the silver truck with New York license plates crashed through the glass of the front entrance and another of a white Honda CR-V with significant damage to the front end.
"A vehicle was coming out of one of the alleyways here and struck this truck, which continued into the building," Police Officer Craig Jones explained when iBerkshires arrived on the scene.
Jones reported that there was one injury but whether it was someone in the vehicles or in the deli. A crossing signal near Samel's front entrance was also taken out by the truck.
Around this time, crews worked to clear debris in front of the restaurant as the truck was towed away. That section of the road reopened around 11 a.m.
The police, firefighters and an ambulance responded to the accident and police intend to release a statement on the incident.
Around 6:15 a.m., the Fire Department reported that it had responded to a possible structure fire at 233-235 First St. Windows on all three floors of the multi-family building are now broken or boarded up and the cause is under investigation by the Fire Investigation Unit and investigators from the State Fire Marshal's Office.
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