No Charges in Fatal Pittsfield Crash| 03:55PM / Friday, August 16, 2024 | |
 | | An image of the pickup truck after the collision on May 25 that was provided by the DA's Office. |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The driver of a pickup truck involved in a fatal accident on West Housatonic Street last May will not be charged.
According to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, the DA has declined to file criminal charges after an investigation demonstrated that the truck driver's operation of his vehicle did not meet the legal criminal standard of negligence for charges to issue.
John Tyska, 34, was driving his dirt bike west shortly before 7 p.m. on May 25 when he collided with the driver's side passenger door of a 2022 Honda Ridgeline operated by Peter Schettini, 53, also of Pittsfield, who was traveling south on Plymouth Street.
Tyska collided with the truck after taking a fast turn from Plymouth Street onto West Housatonic Street. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigation into the fatal collision uncovered the following facts:
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Prior to the collision, the dirt bike was traveling at a high speed of between 55 and 65 mph on a street with a speed limit of 40 mph.
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Prior to the collision, the dirt bike operator was driving in a manner indicative of avoiding the police. This included driving through a red light on West Street at approximately 60 to 70 mph when being followed by a police car that had activated its blue lights.
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The lack of reaction time of the truck driver was due to the bike's operation.
The Pittsfield Police Department was the lead law enforcement agency on the case.
While the investigations may at times seem lengthy to the public, District Attorney Timothy Shugrue said he is committed to detailed investigations that thoroughly review all facts in a case.
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