No charges will be filed against driver involved in deadly Pittsfield dirt bike crash

PITTSFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – An investigation has concluded into a deadly crash involving a dirt bike rider in Pittsfield.

According to the Pittsfield Police Department, on May 25th, officers were called to West Housatonic Street for a motor vehicle vs. dirt bike crash. The operator of the dirt bike, 34-year-old John Tyska of Pittsfield, died due to his injuries.

The driver of a 2022 Honda Ridgeline was traveling southbound on Plymouth Street when it collided with the dirt bike going westbound on the same street. Upon further investigation, the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office announced that criminal charges would not be sought against the truck driver.

“The investigation demonstrated that specifically, the truck driver’s operation of his vehicle did not meet the legal criminal standard of negligence for charges to issue,” in a statement sent to 22News from Berkshire District Attorney’s Office Chief of Operations Julia Sabourin.

The following facts were provided in a news release from the DA’s Office:

• Prior to the collision, the dirt bike was traveling at a high speed (between 55-65 miles per hour) on a street with a speed limit of 40 miles per hour.
• 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 miles per hour when being followed by a police car that had activated its blue lights.
• The lack of reaction time of the truck driver due to the bike’s operation.

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