ADDISON COUNTY — Vermont State Police responded two separate traffic crashes in the area last week that resulted in the deaths of three people — a Rutland couple in the first and an Orwell man in the second.
Charles K. Ovian, 84, and Sally Ovian, 83 were killed and a New Haven man was injured in a two-car crash on Route 7 in Brandon on Dec. 28. Just before 2:30 p.m. that Wednesday, Brandon police responded to a report of a two-car crash with entrapment in front of Otter Valley Union High School south of downtown. State police were called to assist.
Officers are still investigating the circumstances of the crash, but they said that when they arrived they found a blue 2012 Chevrolet 1500 pickup truck crashed in the southbound lane of Franklin Street/Route 7 and a silver 2014 Buick Enclave crashed off the roadway in the southbound side lawn.
Both vehicles sustained extensive damage to their front driver-side bumpers, according to police. Airbags had deployed in both vehicles. Charles Ovian, the driver of the Buick, and Sally Ovian were both treated on the scene for extensive injuries.
The pickup driver, Ryan Kennelly, 22, of New Haven, was being tended to by several witnesses to the crash when police officers arrived. 
Soon thereafter staff from the Brandon Area Rescue Squad and Rutland Regional Ambulance Service arrived and provided medical aid to all three people involved in the crash.
Brandon police were also helped by the Brandon and Pittsford fire departments, as well as the state police accident reconstruction team, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the Rutland County State’s Attorney’s office.
Charles Ovian and Kennelly were transported to Rutland Regional Medical Center for further medical aid, and Sally Ovian was airlifted by helicopter to the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire for treatment of her critical injuries.
The medical examiners declared the Ovians deceased.
Both vehicles were judged to be a total loss.
For almost two and a half hours, Route 7 was closed or had a restricted flow of traffic.
This crash is still under investigation. Brandon police are asking anyone with information or those who witnessed the crash to contact them at 802-247-0222.
Separately, on Thursday afternoon Robert J. Fields of Orwell was killed when the car he was driving went off a snow-covered Route 74 in Cornwall and struck a tree.
State police reported that Fields, 69, was driving a 2003 Chevy Suburban westbound on Route 74 during a snowfall when the vehicle traveled off the north side of the road at around 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 29.
The Suburban continued off the roadway and collided with a tree. Fields, who was wearing a seat belt, was the only one in the vehicle.
An ambulance took Fields to Porter Hospital in Middlebury where he was pronounced dead.
Police said it did not appear that drugs or alcohol played a role in this collision, and they noted that it was snowing and the roads were slippery.
This crash is still under investigation and anyone with information is asked to call the State Police at (802) 388-4919.
In other recent activity, troopers:
•  On Dec. 29 at 7:15 a.m. responded, with Vergennes police, to Little Chicago Road in Ferrisburgh for a vehicle parked in the roadway; a witness said the driver was unconscious.
Troopers identified the driver as 62-year-old Stephen Brace of Vergennes, and they determined he was intoxicated. A preliminary breath test showed his breath alcohol content was 0.264 percent; the legal limit for driving is 0.08. Police cited Brace for driving under the influence.
•  On Dec. 29 at a quarter to 6 p.m. were notified of a one-car crash on Route 116 near Carlstrom Road in Bristol. Sree Susarla, 37, of Williston told police that he was driving a 2015 Toyota Corolla northbound on Route 116 at approximately 40 mph when his tires began to slide as he attempted to navigate a left curve near the intersection of Carlstrom Road. He tried to apply his brakes and adjust his steering, but the Corolla went off the road and hit a guardrail on Carlstrom Road. No injuries were sustained in the crash but Susarla’s vehicle sustained significant front-end damage. Neither drugs nor alcohol were found to be contributing factors in the collision.
The Addison County Sheriff’s Department and Bristol Fire Department assisted state police at the scene.
•  Were called to investigate two separate fires last week at a home at 1643 Green Street in Waltham. On Thursday, Dec. 29, the Vergennes Fire Department responded to a 911 call from the home and found a piece of living room carpet had burned and quickly extinguished the fire. Firefighters returned the next day. Friday, Dec. 30, at 2 p.m. when a passing motorist noticed fire coming from the front porch of the house at called in the fire.  Fire Investigators from the Vermont State Police and the Division of Fire Safety responded to determine the origin and cause of the fire. Police are trying to determine the cause of the fire. Anyone having any information regarding this fire is asked to contact VSP Det. Sgt. Todd Ambroz at 878-7111 or any member of the Vergennes Police Department. The Vermont Arson Tip Award Program (VATAP) also offers an award of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the arrest of the person(s) who are involved in an arson fire – 1-800-322-7766. See a full story in the A section of today’s Independent.
•  On Dec. 30 at around 12:30 p.m. investigated a two-vehicle crash near the intersection of Routes 22A and 125 in Bridport. Police report that Kayla Welch, 18, of Vergennes was driving a 2011 Ford Fusion southbound on Route 22A when the Ford ran into the rear end of a 2004 Dodge R15 pickup driven by Benjamin Kleptz, 19, of Jericho. Police said the pickup had come to a complete stop in the road for a vehicle in front of him that had stopped for a vehicle signaling to make a left hand turn onto Route 125. After hitting the truck, the Ford travelled off the road and struck a cable wire on a utility pole and collided with a tree. All people involved had been wearing seat belts at the time of the collision, and no injuries were reported. Vermont State Police were assisted on scene by Middlebury Regional EMS and the Bridport Fire Department.
•  On Dec. 31 at approximately 1:48 p.m. went to investigate a two-car collision on Route 74 East in Shoreham. Police report that Kristilyn Arredondo, 46, of Shoreham was stopped in the northbound lane of the road of the crest of a hill and trying to turn around when a Chevy Cavalier driven by Tyler Bougor, 28, of Salisbury at 50 mph crested the hill and could not stop. Both cars sustained damage, and Bougor and his passenger were taken to Porter Hospital for minor injuries.