ADDISON COUNTY — Vermont State Police are trying to determine the cause of a two-car crash in Salisbury on Sunday morning that resulted in five people going to the hospital.
Troopers from the New Haven barracks along with a patrolman from the Middlebury Police Department responded to a two-vehicle crash on Middle Road in Salisbury at 7:59 a.m. Police determined that a black, 2003 Pontiac Grand Am driven by 42-year-old Dean Whitney of Salisbury had collided with a tan, 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe driven by Ashley Marsh, 30, of Richford.
Police said their preliminary investigation indicated that Whitney traveled left of center striking the Tahoe driven by Marsh in her lane of travel. Marsh attempted to avoid the collision by driving into the adjacent field, however, could not avoid being struck by Whitney.
Whitney, Marsh and all three of Marsh’s passengers — including a 35-year-old man, a 15-year-old boy and a 16-month-old girl — were transported to Porter Hospital for treatment. The man and toddler were examined and released.
The cause of this crash remains under investigation.
In other recent activity, Vermont State Police reported five citations for driving under the influence, or DUI. In the past week troopers:
• On Aug. 17 at 9:08 p.m. responded to a Basin Harbor Road residence in Bridport to check the welfare of person there. Through investigation police determined that Corey Collette, 47, of Bridport drove a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. A preliminary breath test showed a blood alcohol content of 0.101 percent; the legal limit for driving is 0.08. The trooper cited Collette for driving under the influence.
• On Aug. 20 were participating in a DUI checkpoint on Route 7 in Ferrisburgh when at around 9:30 p.m. they came in contact with Joseph E. Handy, 24, of Colchester. A preliminary breath test showed Handy’s blood alcohol content was 0.093 percent, and police cited him for DUI.
• On Aug. 20 at 11:30 p.m. assisted Addison County sheriff’s deputies with a motor vehicle stop. A roadside blood test showed that driver Travis J. Despain, 25, of Windham had a blood alcohol content of 0.171 percent. Police cited Despain for DUI.
• On Aug. 21 at 10 p.m. received a report of a man attempting to force entry into a residence off Green Street in Waltham. When troopers arrived they found Christopher Holwager, 26, of Waltham and suspected he was drunk. A preliminary breath test showed that Holwager’s blood alcohol content was 0.162 percent — twice the legal limit for driving.
Following investigation police determined that Holwager had driven his motor vehicle to the residence while impaired, and violated his conditions of release. They cited him for DUI and violation of conditions, and then they took him to Act 1 in Burlington for detoxification.
• On Aug. 21 at a little before 8 a.m. were advised of a one-car crash on Route 30 in Cornwall. State police said 47-year-old Cassandra O’Connell of South Grafton, Mass., had been driving a 2007 Toyota Camry northbound on Route 30 at an unknown speed when the car left the roadway and hit several trees. The Camry was totaled and O’Connell, who had been wearing a seatbelt, was transported to Porter Hospital for further evaluation for unspecified injuries. A breath test taken at the hospital showed that O’Connell’s blood alcohol content was 0.130 percent, and she was cited for DUI.
In other state police news, the Vermont Department of Public Safety this week announced the election of Commissioner Keith Flynn to the National Criminal Justice Association (NJCA) board of directors. Elected by peers from across the country, the NJCA is a national voice helping to shape criminal justice policy.
Commissioner Flynn was elected Aug. 7 at the 2016 National Forum on Criminal Justice in Philadelphia. Flynn will serve on the board during the 2016-2017 term, as the NCJA works to promote a balanced approach to communities’ complex public safety, criminal and juvenile justice system problems.