State Police Investigate Triple Fatal Crash on Route 8 in Sandisfield

Today, August 15, 2008, at approximately 1:10 p.m. troopers assigned to the State Police Barracks in Lee responded to a four-vehicle crash on Route 8 near the entrance to the Colebrook Reservoir in Sandisfield that resulted in three fatalities.

Preliminary investigation by Trooper John V. Zielinski indicates that 33-year-old Derek Martinez from Waterbury, Connecticut was operating a 1999 Chevrolet Blazer on Route 8 South when his vehicle crossed over the double yellow lines and partially entered the northbound lane. After entering the northbound lane, the Chevrolet Blazer sideswiped the driver's side of a 2006 Jaguar, operated by 45-year-old Michael Goldstein of Briarcliff Manor, New York, which was traveling in the northbound lane of Route 8. After this initial collision, the Chevrolet Blazer fully entered the northbound lane and collided head-on with a 1993 Chevrolet pickup truck operated by 64-year-old Robert Bailey from Thomaston, Connecticut. After the head-on collision, a 2007 BMW avoided a collision into the rear of the Chevrolet pickup but came in contact with the Blazer. Martinez suffered serious injuries in the crash and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Bailey, the operator and 67-year-old Gerald Williams from Thomaston, Connecticut, the passenger of the Chevrolet pickup both sustained serious injuries in the crash and were declared deceased at the scene. Goldstein and the operator of the BMW, 43-year-old Douglas Taylor of Southington, Connecticut, were both uninjured in the crash.

This crash remains under investigation with the assistance of the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, the Berkshire County District Attorney's Office the State Police Crime Scene Services Section. The Sandisfield Police and Fire Departments, EMS, the Connecticut State Police, Mass Highway, and the Medical Examiner's Office assisted Troopers at the scene.

Due to the investigation and vehicle removal, Route 8 was closed in both directions from Route 57 to the Connecticut State Line for approximately six and one half hours.

No further information is available at this time. Please do not call the barracks directly.