Pittsfield, MA : Driver injured in crash with tractor-trailer on East Street at Pittsfield-Dalton line on Wednesday morning, August 24, 2016

The driver of a pickup was injured Wednesday morning when his vehicle was struck by a tractor-trailer at the intersection of East Street and Hubbard Avenue, trapping him inside.

The driver of the tractor-trailer was operating with a suspended commercial driver's license, according to police and now faces charges in connection with the crash.

Wiley L. Hooks, 55, of North Carolina was arrested and arraigned on a criminal charge of unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and a civil motor vehicle infraction of failure to stop or yield.

Members of the Pittsfield and Dalton police and fire departments were called to the scene, which occurred near the Pittsfield-Dalton town line, around 7:11 a.m.

The pickup, a Toyota Tundra, was reportedly heading east on East Street when it was hit by the tractor-trailer heading south on Hubbard toward the intersection with Dalton Division Road.

Hooks told police he had been distracted and drove through the red light and caused the crash.

It's not specified in the police report what caused Hooks to be distracted.

He also told police he was not aware his CDL had been suspended.

According to the North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, Hooks' CDL was suspended on February 19 for a charge of driving while under the influence.

That suspension remains in place until Feb. 19, 2017, according to the DMV and Hooks is disqualified from driving a commercial vehicle until then.

Pittsfield and Dalton fire department crews worked together to successfully extricate the driver, George Forbes, 60, of West Stockbridge, from the Toyota. Forbes was rushed from the scene via ambulance with what Pittsfield Fire Department reported as "serious" injuries. He was taken to Berkshire Medical Center and then transported to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

The fire department also reported that Hooks "appeared uninjured and refused treatment."

When police checked Hooks' license status, it was also learned he has an open, non-extraditable warrant out of New Mexico, though the report did not specify what that warrant is for.

Pittsfield Police sent out an alert via social media asking people to use alternate routes to avoid the intersection. The scene was cleared around 8:30 a.m., and the circumstances of the accident are still being investigated.

Hooks entered not guilty pleas to his charges before Judge William Rota and was released on his own recognizance and is due back in court on Oct. 18 for a pretrial hearing.

Source :
Updated: Driver injured in crash with tractor-trailer on East Street at Pittsfield-Dalton line