The state police reconstruction team is investigating a fatal accident that occurred Wednesday afternoon at the Five Corners. Above, the headlight of a bus involved in the crash lies next to a barrel of flowers.
Update Thursday, Aug. 21:
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. -- The Williamstown Police Department on Thursday identified the motorist killed in Wednesday's accident at the Five Corners intersection.
Patrick M. Harrigan, 57, of Rensselaer, N.Y., was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident at the intersection of Cold Spring Road (Route 7) and Hancock Road (Route 43), Williamstown Police Officer Shuan William said in a news release.
Harrigan's red Mazda 3 was involved in a three-vehicle accident with a Peter Pan motor-coach bus and a Honda CRV.
Preliminary reports and witness statements indicate the Mazda 3 was traveling north on Hancock Road and failed to stop for the stop sign and flashing red light, police said. Harrigan's vehicle entered the intersection and was struck broadside by the southbound Peter Pan bus, operated by Samuel Cabrera, 62, of West Babylon, N.Y.
After that collision, the bus and the Mazda drifted into the northbound lane, clipping the Honda CRV operated by M. Harry Hull, 81, of Hoosick Valls, N.Y., police said.
The sole passenger on the bus was transported to Southern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, Vt., with minor injuries. Police said there were no updates on the passenger's condition. Cabrera and Hull were treated on scene and released by medical personnel.
Route 7 was shut down for about four and a half hours to all northbound and southbound traffic.
The accident is under investigation by the Williamstown Police Department with the assistance of the Massachusetts State Police.
WILLIAMSTOWN,Mass. — The driver of a small sedan was killed Wednesday afternoon after a collision with a bus.
The accident occurred at about 4:10 p.m. at the Five Corners intersection, where Route 43 crosses Route 7.
"It appears that the vehicle entered into the path of a Peter Pan bus," said Officer Shuan William.
The name of the victim, a man in his 50s, was being withheld at this time pending notification of kin. One person on the bus was taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure but no one else was hurt in the incident.
Traffic was detoured over Brodie Mountain Road for several hours. Southbound traffic eventually was allowed to detour around the crash through Bloedel Park on the west side of Route 7.
The state police accident reconstruction team was investigating the crash.
It appeared the bus was southbound when the car entered its path on the west side. The driver's side was heavily damaged and piece that appeared to be part of the bumper was under a third car, a white sport utility vehicle, parked just north of the bus next to the traffic island on east side of Route 7.
The bus incurred damage to the front end and pieces of its front bumper were scattered across the intersection. One of its headlights ended up on the lawn edging the store at Five Corners.
Williamstown Police and Fire responded to the scene. The road was still closed and vehicles had not yet been removed at 6:45. The area was expected to be closed for some time.
Lanesborough Fire and Police blocked Route 7 from the south end and detoured traffic toward Route 43. The Fire Department had borrowed a large electronic sign from the sheriff's department to warn motorists of the detour. Hancock Fire Department was on Route 43 blocking traffic there.
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The state police reconstruction team is investigating a fatal accident that occurred Wednesday afternoon at the Five Corners. Above, the headlight of a bus involved in the crash lies next to a barrel of flowers.