ADDISON COUNTY — At a little past 10:30 p.m. this past Saturday, Sept. 1, Vermont State Police responded to a one-car crash on Route 125 in Hancock, at the intersection of Taylor Brook Road. The trooper arrived to find that the driver of a 1984 Chevrolet Monte Carlo had fled the scene but left behind a moderately damaged car and guardrail.
The Monte Carlo was registered to Robert D. Mears, 47, of Hancock, whom police found at his home. After talking with Mears, who was not injured in the crash, the trooper cited him for driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident and giving false information to a police officer.
In other recent activity, state police:
•  On Aug. 28 at approximately 8 a.m. responded to a two-car crash with injuries on North Orwell Road in Orwell. State police report that their preliminary investigation indicates that Heather Coro, 35, of Orwell was driving a 2010 Toyota 4-Runner northbound on North Orwell Road and travelled left of center prior to navigating a curve. It was at this time 48-year-old Lisa Whitman of Ripton was driving a 2013 Jeep Patriot southbound on that same road. Police report that Whitman tried to avoid the crash by swerving to the right but nevertheless Coro’s Toyota struck the driver’s side of Whitman’s Jeep.
Whitman was transported to UVM Porter Medical Center for suspected minor injuries. Coro was not injured.
Based upon statements made by both operators and evidence on the roadway, the trooper found that Coro breached her duty to use ordinary care when operating her motor vehicle. He cited Coro for negligent driving and issued her a ticket for driving on the wrong side of the road, which carries a fine of $220 and two points on her driver’s license.
•  On Aug. 28 at approximately 3:38 a.m. received a call about a single-vehicle crash on Monkton Road near Post Road in Monkton. Troopers found the driver of the 2003 Ford F-350 pickup, identified as 23-year-old Andre Letourneau of North Ferrisburgh, walking near the scene of the crash. Letourneau sustained minor injuries during the crash and was cleared by rescue squad personnel. While speaking with Letourneau, Troopers observed indicators of impairment.
Letourneau performed standardized field sobriety tests and was subsequently cited for driving under the influence. The pickup was a total loss. The crash is still under investigation.
•  On Aug. 31 at approximately 10:25 a.m. stopped a motor vehicle on Route 7 for a license plate not being properly assigned to it. State police cited Stephen Brooks, 58, of Ripton for driving with a criminally suspended license, and gave him a ticket with a $162 fine for driving a vehicle with the wrong license plates.
•  On Aug. 31 at approximately 7:36 a.m. responded to a reported two-car collision on Monkton Road, east of Boro Hill Road, in Monkton.
After looking into the incident, state police reported that the car driven by Donna Blaise, 62, of Vergennes traveled left of center and into the path of on-coming car driven by Stephanie Murray, 49, of Monkton. Murray attempted to avoid being struck by Blaise, but could not avoid the collision. No one was injured, but Blaise’s 2008 Toyota Rav was damaged and Murray’s 2006 Acura MDX was totaled.
Troopers on scene were assisted by the Monkton Volunteer Fire Department and the Bristol Rescue Squad.
This crash remains under investigation.
•  On Sept. 1 at approximately 10:30 a.m. logged a call about a dispute between neighbors in the Bluebird Lane neighborhood in Starksboro. After investigating, state police alleged that Thomas George, 23, of Starksboro had shattered his neighbor’s car window, and that throughout the day George made several verbal threatening statements that would put a reasonable person in fear for themselves.
George also made communicated threats through electronic means to one of the victims in this case.
Prior to the arrival of troopers, George left the neighborhood but was later located in Burlington and cited for unlawful mischief, criminal threatening and disturbing the peace by use of electronic means.
•  On Sept. 1 at a little before 6:30 p.m. responded to a one-car crash on Lower Notch Road near Bristol Cliff Drive in Bristol. Police said that the driver, identified as 18-year-old Marissa Freegard-Rougier of Huntington, lost control of the 2000 Toyota Corolla she was driving and struck a tree. Neither alcohol nor drugs played a factor in the collision.
Freegard-Rougier sustained minor injuries in the crash; she was not wearing a seat belt.
Police issued a ticket for unreasonable and imprudent speed for conditions and hazards with crash resulting; it carries a fine of $220.
Vermont State Police were assisted by the Bristol Fire Department and Bristol Rescue Squad.
•  On Sept. 1 at approximately 8:45 p.m. responded to a one-car crash in the area of Notch Road and Ripton Road in Lincoln. Troopers found a 1991 Ford Explorer on its left side just off of the roadway; it was considered a total loss. Police cited the driver, identified as Norman Michaud, 60, of Lincoln with driving under the influence.
Vermont State Police officers were assisted on scene by Bristol police and Lincoln Fire Department.
•  On Sept. 2 at just past 6 p.m. logged a complaint about a vehicle, described as a 2006 Volkswagen Jetta, driving around the Chittenden and Addison counties with Vermont license plates that were not assigned to the vehicle. About four hours later state police located the vehicle on McKnight Lane in Waltham and confirmed the registration plates were not for that vehicle. Police cited Matthew White, 26, of Jericho for driving with a criminally suspended license, and issued him a ticket for having the wrong plates on his car.
•  On Sept. 3 at 10 minutes until 3 p.m. stopped a motor vehicle on Route 116 in Middlebury for an expired inspection sticker. Police cited Carl Smith, 64, of Lincoln for driving with a criminally suspended license.
•  On Sept. 3 at approximately 7:25 p.m. responded to the report of a one-car crash on Oak Ridge Road in Rochester. Police cited Allison Brown, 29, of Granville for driving under the influence of intoxicants.