BERLIN, Mass. — A young firefighter from Sterling has died following a tragic motorcycle crash late Sunday night in Berlin.
Authorities confirmed the victim as 23-year-old Jack Bonazzoli, a recruit firefighter and EMT with the Sterling Fire Department.
Emergency crews responded to a home on West Street after reports of a motorcycle crashing into the property. Investigators said the motorcycle veered off the roadway, struck the porch of the house, and caused significant damage, including broken beams and shattered windows.
Witnesses described the shocking aftermath. “I looked around to see what happened and I saw the motorcycle in the house,” said Fernando Restpo, a chef at the nearby West Street Tavern. “It’s a small town, everybody is together. I’m sorry for the family—it’s bad for everybody.”
Bonazzoli was remembered by friends and community members as well-known, kind, and deeply dedicated to public service.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, though police said speed may have been a factor.
The Sterling Fire Department expressed its condolences, saying Bonazzoli’s passing is a heartbreaking loss for the department and the community he served.