ADDISON COUNTY — On Wednesday, April 17, Vermont State Police closed Route 17 between Route 7 and the New Haven town green for nearly six hours after a truck rolled over and spilled gasoline.
At a few minutes before 2 p.m. that day troopers responded to a report that a welding supply truck carrying flammable material had gone off the north side of the roadway and rolled on to the passenger side.
The driver, identified as 54-year-old Thomas Velde Sr. of North Clarendon, was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured.
He told police that the 1995 Ford box truck lost its steering and he was unable to prevent it from leaving the roadway. Crews from New Haven Fire Department also responded and determined the vehicle was leaking gasoline. Route 17 was closed as a precautionary measure. A state hazardous materials team responded to the scene.
Police reported the road was open again at 8 p.m.
Separately, Senior Trooper Andrew Leise is investigating three recent incidents of the theft of expensive items from unlocked buildings in the county. First, on April 21, he received a report of the theft of three chainsaws valued at $2,000 from an unsecured garage and sugaring shack at a residence in New Haven. Leise reported that unknown individual(s) entered the unsecured property and stole two Husqvarna chainsaws and one Stihl chainsaw.
Later that day, Leise reported the theft of a yellow Suzuki DRZ 400cc dirtbike and a yellow and black Cub Cadet 56-inch, zero-turn mower from an unsecured shed at an abandoned house in Bridport. As in the New Haven case, the thief or thieves stole the property from an unlocked building. The approximate value of the dirt bike and lawn mower is $4,000.
Leise is also investigating a burglary that occurred at a residence on Fern Lake Road in Leicester and was reported on April 22. Approximately $5,000 in sterling flatware and jewelry was stolen from the unsecured home. Anyone with information on any of these cases is asked to contact Trooper Leise at 802-388-4919. Information can also be submitted anonymously online at www.vtips.info or by texting “CRIMES” (274637) to Keyword: VTIPS.
In other recent activity, Vermont State Police:
•  On April 19 at 11:09 p.m. responded to a single-family residence on Route 30 in Cornwall for a reported burglary. Anyone with information is asked to contact VSP.
•  On April 20 at approximately 2:31 p.m. were called to investigate the theft of a vehicle from a residence on Smead Road in Salisbury. The theft was believed to have occurred on April 17, but was not immediately noticed by the victim. The person suspected of taking the vehicle was described as a white male in his late 30s, with short dark hair and a receding hairline. Police are still investigating the incident. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Vermont State Police at 388-4919. Information can also be submitted anonymously online at www.vtips.info or by texting “CRIMES” (274637) to Keyword: VTIPS.
•  On April 20 requested the public’s assistance after receiving a report of a stolen trailer tailgate from a residence off Delong Road in Cornwall. Victim Richard Burton, 77, described the tailgate as black in color and approximately 125 pounds. He told troopers that the tailgate was taken sometime after March 1. Anyone with information is asked to contact VSP.
•  On April 20 at 11:27 p.m. stopped a motor vehicle stop for a traffic infraction on Lovers Lane in Bristol, and cited the driver, Linda M. Clodgo, 48, of Bristol, for driving under the influence of alcohol, second offense.
•  On April 21 at approximately 3:56 p.m. stopped Jason Thibault, 38, of Ferrisburgh on Quaker Street in Ferrisburgh for a traffic violation. Police cited Thibault for DUI.
•  On April 22 at 12:45 a.m. stopped a car driven by Casey Hodge, 31, of East Wallingford on Route 7 for speeding. Police cited Hodge for possession of marijuana.
•  On April 22 at 9:40 a.m. received a report of a burglary on Shoreham-Whiting Road in Whiting. The victim returned home to find someone had forced in a rear door. A jar full of loose change was taken from the residence. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact VSP.
•  On April 22 at 9:51 a.m. received a report of identity theft. Someone had used 77-year-old Shoreham man’s personal information and were able to obtain approximately $7,259 by making a fraudulent income tax return. Anyone with information is asked to contact Trooper Leise at 388-4919.
•  On April 22 received a report from a Bridport resident that she had an exterior gas tank at her residence filled on April 15 and over the course of a week a large amount of gasoline had been stolen. Anyone with information on this is asked to contact VSP.
•  On April 23 at 2:25 a.m. responded to a vehicle off Swamp Road in Cornwall. The driver, identified as 25-year-old Bradley Hart of Salisbury, told police he fell asleep and the 2006 Chevy Malibu he was driving went off Swamp Road and into the swamp. He was transported to the hospital to be screened as a precaution. The entire car sustained water damage.