ADDISON COUNTY — Rain apparently was a factor in a four-car crash on Route 7 in Leicester on the afternoon of Sept. 25. No one was injured.
At a few minutes before 4 p.m. that Tuesday, troopers from the New Haven Vermont State Police barracks responded to a report of the crash near Fern Lake Road. It was raining at the time of the collision and the roadways were wet.
Troopers reported that all four vehicles were travelling northbound on Route 7 when a 2008 Chevy Colorado pickup driven by Lawrence Ziegler, 59, of Bridport stopped, signaled a left turn into a driveway and waited for traffic to clear in the southbound lane. A 2017 Dodge Caravan travelling behind Ziegler at the posted speed limit attempted to break, but was unable to avoid the collision. Police identified the Caravan driver as 17-year-old Jessica Grover of Mendon.
Michael Castelli, 45, of Middlebury was driving a 2006 Scion TC behind Grover’s minivan, and seeing brake lights he was able to maneuver around both the Caravan and the pickup and avoided the collision. There was no damage to his vehicle. 
Jacob Sweatt, 23, of Leicester was driving a 1986 GMC truck behind the Scion, saw the car in front of him make a sudden swerve into the southbound lane, revealing the two crashed vehicles stopped in the northbound lane. Sweatt attempted to swerve to the right and avoid a collision, but was unsuccessful; his truck rear-ended Grover’s Caravan causing extensive damage to both vehicles. 
Neither alcohol nor drugs were deemed to be factors in this collision. 
The Brandon Area Rescue Squad and the Brandon Fire Department assisted Vermont State Police on scene. 
Troopers issued three traffic tickets: to Ziegler for misuse of a farm registration, which carries a $249 fine, and expired registration $162 fine); to Grover for following too closely-accident resulting ($220 fine and three points on her insurance); to Sweatt for following too closely-accident resulting ($220 fine and three points).
In other recent activity, Vermont State Police:
•  On Sept. 26 at 9:15 a.m. stopped motor vehicle on Route 7 in Ferrisburgh for a vehicle inspection decal violation. Police cited Codey Paquin, 26, of Ferrisburgh for driving with a suspended license and ticket him for an inspection sticker violation.
•  On Sept. 27 at approximately 2:30 p.m. were conducting motor vehicle law enforcement in the area of Route 7 and Little Chicago Road in Ferrisburgh and saw a vehicle run a red light. Police identified the driver as 28-year-old Christopher Fitzpatrick of Middlebury. State police pulled over Fitzpatrick, but he fled and led troopers on a pursuit that lasted approximately 2 miles. Fitzpatrick stopped his vehicle a second time, and police put him in handcuffs. Police cited Fitzpatrick for driving with a criminally suspended license, possession of two ounces of marijuana, negligent driving, attempting to elude a police officer and three counts of violating conditions of release.
•  On Sept. 27 at 10:40 p.m. saw a car drive into the Jiffy Mart on Route 7 in Ferrisburgh and cited the driver, identified as Brandon Kulak, 25, of Ferrisburgh, with driving under the influence, second offense, and driving with a suspended license.
•  On Sept. 29 at 3:30 p.m. observed a vehicle passing several vehicles at a high rate of speed on Route 7 in Salisbury. The trooper clocked the faster vehicle at 74 mph in a 50 mph zone. State police stopped the vehicle and cited Tia Sutherburg, 27, of Brandon for driving with a suspended license and issued her a ticket that carries a waiver amount of $241 and 2 points on her insurance.
•  On Sept. 29 at a little past 8 p.m. were dispatched to a 22A home in Panton for a family fight complaint.  Police allege that Richard Marszalkowski, 55, of Panton had assaulted a family member; they cited him for domestic assault.
•  On Sept. 30 at approximately 4:34 a.m. responded to a one-car crash on Quaker Village Road in Weybridge. Troopers found a 200 Subaru Legacy in the ditch lying on the driver’s side. Evidence suggested to the officer that the vehicle had rolled before coming to a position of rest.
State police later identified the driver Johannah Schneider, 25, of Middlebury. When they talked to Schneider at a residence she told them that she was travelling too fast on Quaker Village Road and tried to avoid a deer. While speaking with her, troopers detected signs of impairment, screened Schneider and cited her for driving under the influence.
•  On Oct. 1 at approximately 5:15 p.m. responded to a minor motor vehicle crash involving a farm truck on Plank Road in New Haven. Police report that Brian Jewell, 22, of Bristol was hauling corn in 2003 Western Star farm truck when he field to yield to oncoming traffic as he entered Plank Road, colliding with a 2006 Toyota truck driven by Calvin Bessett, 27, of Bristol. No one was injured; both vehicles were driven from the scene. A traffic ticket was pending.