ADDISON COUNTY — Troopers from the Vermont State Police barracks in New Haven responded to the area of Lapham Bay Road in Shoreham for a report of a two-vehicle crash at around 7:20 p.m. this past Friday, Nov. 9. It was reported that one vehicle, a 2009 Ford truck, had fled the scene of the crash.
Based on information provided by witnesses to the crash, state police identified the driver of the truck as Keith Hobday, 62, of Bridport and tracked him down. While speaking with Hobday, troopers detected signs of impairment, so they screened him for driving under the influence of alcohol and subsequently arrested Hobday.
Police said that Hobday attempted to deflect the investigation by providing troopers with false information.
Troopers took Hobday to the New Haven barracks and cited him for driving under the influence, second offense; giving false information to police; and leaving the scene of an accident.
Neither Hobday nor the other driver in the crash were reported injured.
In other recent activity, Vermont State Police:
•  On Nov. 6 at just after 11:30 a.m. responded to a two-vehicle crash located on Route 7 near the Maplefields in New Haven. Police said the pickup was following a car, when the car slowed down for a slow vehicle in front. When the truck also tried to slow the rear of the vehicle “kicked out,” causing pickup to spin counter-clockwise and collide with the rear of the car. No one was injured, but both vehicles sustained some damage. Neither alcohol nor drugs played a factor in the collision, police report.
The driver of the pickup was issued a ticket for following too closely, which carried a $220 fine.
State police were assisted by the New Haven Fire Department and Middlebury Regional EMS.
•  On Nov. 7 at approximately 1:20 p.m. observed Virginia Gillett, 34, of Ferrisburgh operating a vehicle on Court Street in Middlebury. Gillett was known by troopers to have a suspended driver’s license, so they stopped her, took her to the New Haven barracks and cited her for driving with a criminally suspended license.
•  On Nov. 8 at 12:37 p.m. spoke to a female who walked into the Vergennes Police Station and told police she had been assaulted on Nov. 5 by Brendan Pierce, 29, of Addison, and he kept assaulting her until the family dog separated them. After taking sworn statements, state police cited Pierce for aggravated domestic assault/strangulation, and released him after also issuing a temporary relief from abuse order.
•  On Nov. 13 at approximately 8:30 a.m. went to the site of a one-car crash on Route 17 in Waltham. The 85-year-old Lincoln man told police that he was driving westbound on Route 17 at approximately 35 mph going downhill through a left curve when his vehicle began to slide and he attempted to correct it, but the car slid into a ditch. No injuries were reported; alcohol or drugs were not factors in the crash, police said.
•  About an hour later, at around 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 13, went to a pickup crash on East River Road in Lincoln. The Brandon woman driving the pickup told police she was driving 10-15 mph when her vehicle began to slide and the driver’s side/rear of her vehicle struck a bridge. No injuries were reported.
•  On Nov. 13 reported on an endangerment case. Troopers report that on Oct. 6 they were dispatched to a residence on Middle Road in Salisbury for a threatening complaint. Two teens told police they were riding ATVs on a Class IV road when they encountered an individual who they identified as Peter LaFlame, 67, of Salisbury. Both told police that LaFlame pointed a firearm at them as they were riding their ATVs. The teens left the area and were not harmed during the incident.
State police went and talked with LaFlame, who denied pointing a firearm at teens riding the ATVs. After consulting with the Addison County State’s Attorney, state police said they cited LaFlame for recklessly endangering another person.