ADDISON COUNTY — Vermont State Police are looking for the public’s help in identifying the two vehicles that drove away from a five-car crash on Route 7 in New Haven this past Friday morning before police arrived.
At 7:30 a.m. on May 2, state police, Vergennes police, Vergennes Area Rescue Squad and New Haven Fire Department responded to the five-vehicle pile-up that resulted in one person being transported to Porter Hospital with possible injuries.
Trooper Armstrong reported that her investigation suggests that a school bus picking up children caused a delay in normal northbound traffic on Route 7 south of Woodman Hill. When traffic slowed and created a slight back up, the trooper said several drivers did not leave sufficient space between vehicles and an accordion of collisions occurred.
According to witness statements, the two front vehicles sustained minor damage and left the scene. They were described as a green Subaru and a white Jeep Cherokee; the Cherokee has fender damage and left a fender roadside.
The third vehicle, described as a red 2009 Pontiac G6, was forced off the road when struck from behind by a 2012 Toyota Prius; the Pontiac hit the edge of a guard rail causing significant front end damage that resulted in it being judged a total loss. The Prius had slight front- and rear-end damage. The fifth vehicle (the make and model were not identified) was unable to avoid the collision and drove through the already bent guard rail and into the adjacent field next to the Pontiac, Armstrong reported.
The driver of the Pontiac, identified as 30-year-old Amanda Relyea of Middlebury, was transported to Porter Hospital for a possible neck injury, which was reported as non-life-threatening. Armstrong reported that serious injury was avoided because all parties were seat belted properly.
Anyone with information on the identity of the green Subaru or the white Jeep is asked to contact Trooper Armstrong at the New Haven State Police Barracks 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, state police:
•  On April 29 at 6 p.m. cited Levi Cousino, 26, of Bristol for speeding after he was seen allegedly driving 30 mph over the posted speed limit on Plank Road in New Haven.
•  On April 30 at 6:50 a.m. responded, along with the Bristol Fire Department, Bristol Rescue Squad, Green Mountain Power, Comcast and Mike’s Towing, to a one-car crash on Route 116 South in Bristol near the intersection of River Road. Police said a 1999 Subaru Impreza driven by Hector Santos, 21, of Middlebury drifted off the east side of the roadway and collided with a utility pole.
Santos was transported to Porter Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries to his leg. Santos was screened for driving under the influence while he was at Porter and ultimately police cited him to appear in Addison Superior Court, criminal division, on June 16 to answer to the charges of careless and negligent driving and giving false information to a police officer.
The pole was damaged but repaired by both Green Mountain Power and Comcast. The Impreza was judged to be a total loss due to contact damage.
•  On April 30 wrapped up an investigation of an April 18 incident. Police report that on April 18 at approximately 8:27 p.m. they received a call of a vehicle that had driven across a lawn at 1551 Leicester-Whiting Road in Leicester, causing damage to the lawn. Police cited Cale Quenneville, 21, of Leicester for careless and negligent driving.
•  On May 2 at 2 p.m. responded to a vandalism complaint at the UVM Morgan Horse Farm property on Morgan Horse Farm Road in Weybridge, where a fence was damaged. Further investigation revealed the fence had been struck by a vehicle traveling southbound that left the roadway; it damaged multiple posts. Evidence at the scene suggested the vehicle to possibly be a Ford pickup truck, possibly an F-250 or larger. Police said that based on the mirror design the vehicle would be an early- to mid-year 2000 style. The vehicle will possibly have front and side damage the passenger side. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact VSP.
•  On May 2 at 4:14 p.m. investigated the report of a vandalism at the Boro Cemetery in Monkton. Troopers found that approximately 10 gravestones were toppled — one dated back to 1866 and another, belonging to a veteran from the War of 1812, was broken in half. The veteran’s flag post at the grave site was also broken in half and the American flag was left lying on the ground. Police identified two juveniles believed to be involved in the incident; on that day they cited one for unlawful mischief and the next day they cited the second on the same charge. The town estimated that the damage to the cemetery was approximately $700-$800.
•  On May 2 at 11:56 p.m. received an anonymous tip of a possibly intoxicated person driving a blue Hyundai in Hancock. After seeing a blue Hyundai on Route 100 in Hancock cross over the center line, troopers stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as Amanda Lee Beane, 27, of Hancock. While speaking with her, the officers noted signs of intoxicant. They cited her for driving under the influence and issued a written warning for driving on roadways laned for traffic.
•  On May 3 at 3 minutes past midnight stopped a vehicle driven by Jason M. Aubin, 43, of Williamstown, N.J., on Route 7 near the Ferrisbugh Post Office for not having a light over its license plate. Police cited Aubin for driving with a criminally suspended license. Green Mountain Towing removed the vehicle.
•  On May 3 at 12:53 a.m. cited Crystal Luciano, 26, of Shelburne for driving under the influence of intoxicants and careless and negligent driving on Route 7 at New Haven Junction. Luciano was lodged at the Chittenden County Correctional Facility.
•  On May 3 at 6:12 p.m. responded to an accident with damage in Granville. No further information was available.
•  On May 3 at 6:20 pm. cited Steven Lackard, 30, of Weybridge, for driving with a criminally suspended license on Route 7 in Salisbury.
•  On May 3 at 9:25 p.m. cited Michael Brouillard, 20, of Brandon, for driving under the influence and driving with a criminally suspended license on Route 53 in Salisbury.
•  On May 5 at 6:46 p.m. cited Brandon Bothwell, 25, of Charlotte for driving with a criminally suspended license on Plank Road in New Haven. Police said the vehicle he was driving had expired registration plates.