Deborah Ernst, 60, driver of the Murano, is being charged for operating under the influence of alcohol and has been determined to be at fault for the accident. Ernst is a resident of Readsboro, Vt., and was operating her father's vehicle.
The driver and passenger of the minivan were both women in their 40s; one incurred head injuries and one chest injuries. Both were taken to BMC in Pittsfield. Ernst was taken to SVMC at her request for neck, back and shoulder injuries. None of the injuries were life-threatening, Sgt. James Burdick said
Both vehicles were totaled, and the sergeant said speed was not a factor in the accident.
"This is the first time that I know of there was an accident there," Burdick said of concerns raised about the jersey barriers that have been in place for three years. "This was because of drinking."
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A head-on collision on Beaver Street Thursday night injured three people and will result in charges for one of the drivers.
The crash occurred about 11:20 p.m. and came over the scanner as a motor vehicle versus jersey barriers. Then dispatch called for more ambulances.
A 2007 gray Nissan Murano with South Carolina plates was headed north on Beaver when it apparently scraped along the side of the concrete jersey barriers still up from the embankment collapse three years ago.
The Murano's driver apparently tried to correct and veered into the south lane and directly into the path of a southbound dark gray Ford Windstar. The driver of the Murano and the driver and occupant of the minivan were all taken by ambulance; two went Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield and a third to Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington.
A nearby resident who heard the collission from his home was first on the scene and said he turned off one of the cars and helped the driver of the Murano out.
Both vehicles sustained significant front-end damage and the airbags appear to have gone off in both.
Sgt. James Burdick said charges are pending against the driver of the Murano.
North Adams and state police, the Fire Department and North Adams Ambulance responded. Dean's Quality Auto and Cariddi Auto towed the vehicles from the scene. The road was reopened after about an hour.
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