ADDISON COUNTY — Vermont State Police are looking for help from the public as they investigate the crash of a motorized bicycle in Bristol last week.
State police report that at about 5 minutes after 9 p.m. on Aug. 14, they were dispatched to the report of a cyclist lying in the roadway on Route 116 near Lincoln Road. Preliminary investigation indicated that Ernest Martin, 51, of New Haven had been traveling southbound on a motorized bicycle. A passing motorist saw him in the roadway and contacted emergency services.
The Bristol Rescue Squad rushed Martin to University of Vermont Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries to his head, shoulder and stomach. He was not wearing a helmet. Initially he was reported in critical condition at the hospital; on Tuesday they reported his condition as “fair,” which is defined as having vital signs that are stable and within normal limits, the patient is conscious but may be uncomfortable, and indicators are favorable.
Martin’s Kent Fixie model bike showed minimal damage to the front tire. The road was described as dry blacktop.
Police closed Route 116 in the area to traffic while they took care of Martin and investigated the scene. The Bristol Fire Department assisted police.
Anyone who may have witnessed Ernest Martin operating his motorized bicycle or had contact with him during the preceding 24 hours is asked to contact the New Haven State Police barracks at 388-4919.

OTHER INCIDENTS
While state police were dealing with the bicycle crash that sent the New Haven man to the hospital this past Wednesday, there were called to an unrelated incident nearby. Troopers were notified by Bristol Fire Department personnel of a crash on Route 116 in Bristol at around 9:39 p.m. Police said Lawrence Jones, 70, of Bristol was driving a motor vehicle when he fell asleep behind the wheel. Apparently Jones was woken by witnesses but he couldn’t avoid crashing.
Troopers screened Jones for inebriation and ended up citing him for driving under the influence, first offense.
Separately, on Aug. 13 at a little before 8:30 p.m., troopers were dispatched to a one-car crash on Upper Notch Road in Bristol. Police said that a 2005 Subaru Legacy overturned and came to a rest on its roof. Troopers judged that the car was a total loss. They ended up citing driver Brian Sheldon, 38, of Middlebury driving under the influence. No injuries were reported for Sheldon.
Finally, on Aug. 20 state police cited David Leonard, 42, of Salisbury for home improvement fraud. The charges came from an investigation that began July 19, when a Weybridge man complained about Leonard to state police. Troopers determined that between September 2017 and now, Leonard misused $13,500 in a home improvement fraud. He is due to answer the charge in Addison County District Court, criminal division, on Oct. 28.