VERMONT — On this past Sunday afternoon Vermont State Police were called to investigate a two-vehicle accident on Interstate 89 in South Burlington involving a Vergennes man.
Police said that on Nov. 30 at 2:58 p.m. a southbound pick-up truck and trailer driven by 21-year-old Casey Poquette of Vergennes lost its left rear tire, when the tire separated from the axle. The tire crossed the southbound lanes and median before striking a northbound vehicle operated by 60-year-old Lucy Gil of Laval, Quebec.
Gil’s vehicle, a 2012 Kia Sportage, sustained disabling front end damage and had to be towed from the interstate.
Poquette’s 2008 Chevrolet pick-up experienced a small fire near the left rear wheel well that was contained. Poquette’s vehicle was towed from the scene as well.
There were four additional restrained occupants in Poquette’s vehicle. None of the parties involved were injured and both drivers were wearing seatbelts.
This incident resulted in a substantial traffic slow-down in both the northbound and southbound lanes for approximately one hour. Traffic was heavy due to the Thanksgiving Holiday travel weekend.
This incident remains under investigation.
In other recent activity, troopers:
•  On Nov. 20 at 9:16 a.m. responded to an accident with damage in Hancock. No details were available.
•  On Nov. 24 at 6:22 a.m. were called to investigate a crash on Route 116 in Bristol at River Road. After investigating, police reported that Scott Phillips, 43, of Barton was driving a 2007 Chevrolet truck southbound on Route 116 in the rain on wet roadway when he fell asleep. Phillips recalled waking up just before his vehicle traveled off the road and collided with a guardrail. Although he reportedly was not wearing a seatbelt, Phillips was uninjured and the vehicle was towed away due to disabling crash damage. Police issued Phillips a traffic ticket for driving out of his lane.
•  Learned that about $1,000 of cash was stolen from the Route 7 Dakin Farms store in Ferrisburgh on the evening of Monday, Nov. 24. Police said the thief or thieves broke into the building through a back door at about 6 p.m., about an hour after the store’s closing time. Troopers responded to the Dakin Farm business at about 7 p.m. and began investigating the crime. Police are asking anyone with information on the crime to call them at 388-4919. Information can also be submitted anonymously online at www.vtips.info or by texting “CRIMES” (274637).
•  On Nov. 26 at 4:35 p.m., during the snowstorm, responded to a crash in Rutland Town involving a Brandon man. Police said Andrew McKinnell, 22, lost control of the 2010 Chevy SUV he was driving northbound on North Grove Street when he entered a bend in the road, which was described as covered with snow and ice. The SUV exited the east side of the roadway and slid into a utility pole. McKinnell was unhurt, but an 18-year-old passenger was taken to Rutland Regional Medical Center to be treated for bumps and bruises, and the SUV sustained heavy damage on the passenger side door and was towed. Green Mountain Power responded and replaced the utility pole.
•  On Nov. 27 at 10:14 a.m. responded to a one-car crash on Route 22A in Addison. Police said Laila Hammach, 43, of Hackensack, N.J., was traveling northbound on Route 22A when she lost control of the vehicle on the wet road and collided with a tree — rear end first. Hammach sustained minor injuries and was transported to Porter Hospital in Middlebury for precautionary reasons.
•  Nov. 28 at approximately 7:34 a.m. received a report of a single vehicle crash on West River Road in Lincoln. Mark Masterson, 35, of Lincoln told police that he was driving a Pontiac G6 westbound on the road which was covered with snow, ice and slush, when his vehicle lost traction and he began to slide. Masterson’s car hit a guardrail. State police do not believe alcohol or drugs played a factor in the collision. The vehicle sustained moderate damage. Masterson, who was wearing a seatbelt, was unhurt.
•  On Nov. 29 at approximately 9:17 a.m. stopped a motor vehicle driven by David L. Kost, 46, of Burlington on Route 7 in Middlebury. During the stop, police suspected that Kost was under the influence of drugs, and police arrested him and transported him to the New Haven barracks where he was processed for driving under the influence.
•  On Nov. 29 at 10:50 p.m. stopped a motor vehicle driven by Barbara M. Plante, 68, of Bridport on Route 125 in Cornwall for a moving violation. Police said they found that Plante was under the influence of alcohol, so they arrested her, processed her for DUI at the New Haven state police barracks, and cited her for DUI, second offense. Police said her roadside blood alcohol content was 0.099 percent; the legal limit for driving is 0.08.
The Vermont State Police participated in the national “Click It or Ticket” campaign, as well as Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort) over the holiday weekend from Nov. 26 through Nov. 30. Sadly, there were two fatalities on Vermont roadways this past holiday weekend. There have been 42 total fatalities in Vermont this year to date.
Over the long weekend, state police responded to seven impaired-related crashes and 245 total crashes; made 19 DUI arrests; issued 469 speeding tickets and assisted more than 188 motorists.
The winter storm on Wednesday, Nov. 26, forced the cancellation of several planned sobriety checkpoints.
The December holiday enforcement campaign will begin on Dec. 10 and will end on Jan. 1, 2015.