Update 8:16 p.m., Dec. 21: Owen Taylor, 31, of Adams, has been identified as the driver. He is also the owner of the vehicle. Police say charges are still pending in the incident.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A 31-year-old Adams man was seriously injured early Sunday night after crashing his sport utility vehicle on Church Street.
The accident occurred before 8:30 p.m. near the intersection with Bradley. The driver, whose name was not immediately released, had to be extricated from the vehicle and taken to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield.
"He appeared to have serious injuries," said Police Director Michael Cozzaglio, who added that the driver was not wearing a seat belt. "Speed and alcohol seem to be the two contributing factors to this accident."
His black Nissan Xterra was southbound on Church when he lost control, veered across the northbound lane, going up onto the lawn of a house just past Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
"He came up on the lawn, hit a tree, and still traveling at a high rate of speed ... he was sideways on the passenger side and came to rest on the stair on its side," said Cozzaglio.
The vehicle cut across a shared driveway, taking out a "Private Drive" sign, and up onto another steep lawn when it flipped onto its passenger side, slid into a concrete stairway and down into the road.
It came to rest across the northbound lane of road with debris surrounding it, including broken bottles; Church was closed between Davenport and Blackinton for more than an hour.
North Adams Fire and North Adams Ambulance also responded to the scene. Cariddi Auto towed the Nisson, a total loss, from the scene.
Cozzaglio said the accident is under investigation and charges are pending.
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