CHARLEMONT — One man was taken to the hospital after a crash on Route 2 Wednesday afternoon.
The crash happened around 3:30 p.m., when a van collided with the rear end of a silver pickup truck on a hilly section of Route 2 by North River Road.
The front section of the van caught on fire, and the driver of the pickup truck was taken away in an ambulance. Police and firefighters declined to comment on the nature and seriousness of the man’s injurries.
The driver of the van, who did not wish to give his name, said he was coming up “over the crest” of a hill on the highway when he saw the pickup truck at a complete stop. He said he slammed on the brakes but was unable to avoid the collision.
The other occupant of the van appeared uninjured, and the driver said he seemed to be okay, except that his chest was “killing me.”
Charlemont Fire and EMT services, as well as the Shelburne Fire Department and state police, responded to the scene. One lane of traffic was closed while crews removed the wrecked vehicles.
Retired state police Sgt. Lewis Porrovecchio was watching television when he heard the loud sound of a crash right outside his house.
“It’s hard to see an accident like that and not see anyone get hurt,” Porrovecchio said. “You don’t get excited about these after you’ve seen about 5,000 of them.”
Reach David McLellan at dmclellan@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 268.