At approximately 7 a.m. Tuesday patrols from State Police-Lee and State Police-Westfield responded to numerous calls reporting a single-vehicle crash on Route 90 eastbound in Becket. Witnesses reported that a man exited the vehicle after crashing and fled the scene on foot. An investigation at the scene revealed that the operator of the vehicle was likely Diego Martinez, 30, of Sabattus, Maine. Martinez was the subject of several extraditable warrants for his failure to appear in court on illegal drug and firearm possession offenses, as well as for criminal motor vehicle offenses.
Troopers immediately enlisted the assistance of the Massachusetts State Police K9 Unit, the State Police Air Wing, Massachusetts Environmental Police, Becket Police patrols and a K9, and Lee Police in order to conduct a thorough search of the area.
Investigators determined that a failure of the chimney and wood burning furnace caused the fire that took the lives of two residents. The Berkshire District Attorney s Office has identified the victims as 75-year-old James Boltrom and 66-year-old Dorene Boltrom. On behalf of our firefighters and the town of Sheffield, I offer our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the victims, Chief Ullrich said. We re all neighbors in this small town. The fire in the log cabin style home started inside the chimney and spread to nearby combustibles. Investigators were able to find several areas where smoke and heat breached the chimney and piping system from the furnace and entered the home. There was a significant amount of wood and kindling next to the wood-burning furnace in the basement.
SHEFFIELD, Mass. — The State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office and the State Fire Marshal's Office are jointly investigating a structure fire.