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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Police are investigating a fatal accident that occurred at 7 a.m. on Friday morning on West Main Street.

A local woman was killed when she apparently lost control of her Chrysler minivan and crashed into the guard rail, then sheared off a utility pole. The van hit a second pole and came to rest facing north not far from the entrance of Hillside Cemetery.

The name of the driver is being withheld pending notification of kin. She was the only occupant in the vehicle.

The victim has been identified as Deborah Pierce, 56, of Cleveland Avenue.

"She was heading west at a high rate of speed when she lost control," said Police Director Michael Cozzaglio. "Speed was a factor, absolutely, a high rate of speed."

The van's engine was resting next to the second utility; the driver was ejected and found about 10 feet away.

The highway was closed since the accident and traffic has been rerouted over Protection Avenue and Roberts Drive on the west side and Brown Street on the east.

The state police accident reconstruction unit was at the scene along with North Adams Police and Fire, and North Adams Ambulance Service. At the time of posting, the wreck was being cleared by Dean's Quality Auto but the road was going to be closed for awhile longer for National Grid to replace the pole.