ADDISON COUNTY — Twice between April 11 and 17, Vermont State Police responded to automobile crashes on Route 22A in Addison County and ended up citing the drivers involved with driving under the influence of drugs.
First, on April 11 at just before 8 p.m. state police responded to a one-car crash on Route 22A in Shoreham near the Bridport town Line. Police report that evidence at the scene indicated a 2011 Chevy Impala had slowly gone off the road, which was not consistent with the information provided by driver Shannon Harris, 41, of Chazy, N.Y. Troopers met Harris at Porter Hospital and screened him for DUI. They said Harris showed signs of impairment, but a preliminary breath test showed no alcohol in his system.
Police arrested Harris, cited him for DUI-drugs and ordered him to answer the charge in Addison Superior Court, criminal division, on July 10.
The troopers reported that Harris suffered back injuries and his Impala sustained heavy damage to the undercarriage.
Then, on April 17 at 1:11 a.m. state police responded to a one-car crash on Route 22A in Orwell near the intersection of Cook Road. Police report that the 2008 VW Jetta was traveling northbound and crossed the southbound lane and struck a tree off the west side of the road.
The vehicle sustained heavy front-end damage and was a total loss.
The driver, identified as 28-year-old Matthew Hawkins of St. Albans, sustained bloody facial lacerations.
Police suspected that Hawkins was impaired, and they screened him for DUI. A preliminary breath test showed a blood alcohol content of 0.029; below the legal limit for driving of 0.08. The trooper took Hawkins into custody, processed him for DUI and cited him for DUI-drugs. He is due to answer the charge in the same court on May 8.
In other recent activity, Vermont State Police:
•  On April 12 at approximately 1:08 a.m. received a call from a female who reported that there was a man, identified as 24-year-old Matthew Brown of Hancock, at her residence who was intoxicated and refusing to leave.  She stated that he was suicidal and had held a gun up to his head threatening to shoot himself.  The caller later reported that he had discharged one shot from the firearm.  Troopers responded to the scene and took Brown into protective custody.  The Clara Martin Center assisted as Brown was evaluated at Gifford Hospital. Police cited Brown for reckless endangerment. 
•  On April 12 at approximately 9:35 a.m. responded to a report that a 2007 BMW 530 had crashed on Route 30 near School Street in Cornwall. Troopers said the tan BMW was on its side in a ditch when they arrived. After investigating they said that they determined that Amber Thomas, 21, of Shoreham was driving the car and took her attention off the road and then drifted into a utility pole — damaging the pole and totaling her car. Police issued Thomas a civil ticket for unreasonable and imprudent driving with an accident resulting.