ADDISON COUNTY — Vermont State Police were called to three traffic crashes that closed down some county roads for a time this past Thursday.
First, at around 11:20 a.m. on Oct. 4 troopers were dispatched to look into a report of that a tractor-trailer transporting municipal sludge had overturned on the Tyler Bridge Road in Monkton. Police closed Tyler Bridge Road from Route 116 to Turkey Lane while a wrecker service worked to remove the tractor and trailer from the roadway.
Police said their initial investigation indicates that Todd Boutin, 52, of Grand Isle was driving the tractor-trailer westbound on Tyler Bridge Road at a speed estimated at 30 mph. Boutin told police that an animal crossed in front of his vehicle and he attempted to avoid striking it. The 2016 Kenworth truck left the road, travelled down a steep embankment and overturned.
Boutin was not injured, but the truck was considered a total loss.
Police reported that neither speed nor impairment appeared to be contributing factors in this crash.
Vermont State Police were assisted on scene by members of the Monkton Fire Department and the Vergennes Area Rescue Squad. Tyler Bridge Road was closed for several hours while the vehicle was removed from the scene.
Two people were injured in a more serious two-vehicle traffic crash later that afternoon.
State police received a report of a tractor-trailer carrying cars and a Ford Explorer had collided at the intersection of Route 22A and Short Street in Bridport at around 3 p.m. Route 22A was reduced to one lane of traffic and power lines were down at the scene.
Police said their investigation indicated that 36-year-old Stephanie Pope of Shoreham was driving the Ford northbound and attempting to turn left onto Short Street; Amar Murphy, 39, of Colonie, N.Y., was driving the car-hauling truck north and struck the rear of Pope’s vehicle.
After the initial impact, the vehicles continued through a utility pole, and came to rest in a field. Both drivers were transported to the emergency room. Pope was taken to UVM Medical Center with what police described as “possible serious injury” and Murphy to Porter Hospital with possible neck injury.
Pope’s Ford was totaled.
Anyone who witnessed this crash, or who has any information regarding this crash, is asked to contact State Police Trooper Rob Helm of the New Haven barracks at 802-388-4919.
The call for the third Oct. 4 crash came into state police dispatchers at around 7:10 p.m. The call asked for troopers to “be on the lookout” for a blue 2013 Jeep Compass that had left the scene of an accident near the intersection of Monkton Road and Route 7 in Ferrisburgh. Troopers located and stopped the suspect vehicle on Route 7 near the intersection of Greenbush Road.
The driver, identified as Olman Lopez, 47, of Ferrisburgh, denied to police that he was involved in the accident. While speaking with Lopez, troopers detected signs of impairment, screened Lopez for driving under the influence and arrested him. Lopez was transported to the New Haven barracks, processed and cited for DUI.
Police said their investigation revealed that Lopez failed to yield to traffic on Monkton Road when leaving the parking lot of the Dollar General. Troopers further allege that Lopez struck a 2013 Honda Civic driven by Annemarie North, 57, of Vergennes, causing minor damage to both vehicles. Lopez then fled the scene and continued north up Route 7 where he was located by troopers.
Lopez was released on citation to appear at the Addison County Superior Court on Oct. 22 to answer to the charges of driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident.
In other recent activity, state police:
•  On Oct. 5 at approximately 1:45 a.m. stopped motor vehicle on Route 7 in Ferrisburgh and cited the driver, Jamie Jennings, 41, of Port Henry, N.Y., for driving with a criminally suspended license.
•  On Oct. 5 at 3:32 p.m. received a call about an unknown man yelling obscenities at a Granville resident in their Route 100 home. Troopers were unable to find the man before he left the residence, but they said they were able to identify him as 58-year-old Kevin Ainsworth of Granville. State police report that Ainsworth went to the property to confront John Eckroth, 25, regarding a road rage incident that had occurred a short time before.
Police allege that Ainsworth caused damage to a door by kicking it, then continually yelled obscenities and threats at Eckroth and refused to leave. After police were summoned via a 911 call, Ainsworth finally left.
State police apprehended Ainsworth and cited him for disorderly conduct, unlawful trespass and unlawful mischief. He is due to answer the charges in Addison County Superior Court, criminal division, on Nov. 12.