ADDISON COUNTY — Twice in the past week Vermont State Police attended to crashes in which a vehicle left the road and struck a tree, resulting in the drivers and passengers being injured so severely that they were taken to the hospital.

First, on July 27 at around a quarter to 6 p.m. troopers responded to a one-car crash on Shellhouse Mountain Road in Ferrisburgh. Police report that their initial investigation indicated the juvenile driver was headed southbound at a speed that was too fast for conditions. The vehicle lost traction on the gravel roadway, left the southbound lane and struck a tree.

The passenger, identified as Tiauna Clark, 19, of Sheldon was not wearing a seatbelt and was seriously injured. She was transported to UVM Medical Center by helicopter. The juvenile driver, who was not identified by name, was taken to Porter Medical Center for suspected minor injuries. Police cited the driver for driving too fast for conditions and violating the restrictions of their learner’ permit by transporting a passenger.

Vermont State Police remind the motoring public of the importance of wearing a seat belt.

In the second incident, troopers rushed to a crash on Route 7 near the Brandon/Leicester town line at around 3 p.m. on July 30. Police report that the 1997 Dodge truck that Terry Paul, 78, of Rutland City was driving left the highway and struck a tree.

Both Paul and passenger Michael Vitaglian, 58, of Rutland City were able to get out of the truck on their own, but were injured and taken to Porter Medical Center by Brandon Area Rescue Squad for care. Route 7 in Leicester near the crash was temporarily closed to one lane of travel.

The vehicles involved in both crashes were judged to be total losses.

A third crash this past week apparently involved drinking and driving, but no trees.

On July 31 at a few minutes past 5 p.m. state police responded to a report of a one-car crash on Route 7 near the intersection with Town Hill Road in New Haven. Troopers report that driver Pedro Salvador, 22, of Carthage, Miss., was driving a 2003 Toyota Corolla northbound when the car crossed into the opposing lane of travel, left the roadway and overturned.  Salvador was unhurt but the Corolla was considered a total loss.

While speaking with Salvador, troopers detected indicators of impairment. They screened Salvador and cited him for driving under the influence and negligent driving. They also issued him a ticket for driving in the wrong lane. Then police released Salvador to a sober person.

In other recent activity, troopers:

• On July 21 at nine minutes past 11 a.m. logged a report of a theft from the Maplefield’s Store on Route 7 in New Haven. Employees said money was missing from the register. Police alleged that a former employee, later identified as William D. Harris, 63, of Middlebury, stole $91 from the cash register. On July 25 state police located Harris and cited him for petit larceny.
• On July 26 at 7:15 a.m. received a report that a vehicle had been stolen the night before at around 7 p.m. in Bristol. Police said the vehicle was a white 2016 Ford cargo van with Smith and McClain Inc. written on the side of it. The vehicle was later found in Colchester. Police report that the van’s GPS indicated that whoever stole it made several stops in Addison County and in Chittenden County after it was stolen.

Anybody with any information on this crime is asked to contact the Vermont State Police New Haven Barracks at 802-388-4919. State police also encourage citizens to take precautionary measures by locking their vehicles and removing the keys and any valuable items from inside the vehicle.

• On July 27 received a complaint of a man causing a public inconvenience in the parking lot of Cookie Love in North Ferrisburgh a little before 1 p.m. The caller told police that the man was in the parking lot and picnic area harassing customers while they were attempting to eat their ice cream. The man, later identified as Daniel C. Averill, 30, of North Ferrisburgh refused to leave the property after being told to do so by employees.

Police arrested Averill, took him to the New Haven barracks and cited him for unlawful trespass and disorderly conduct. Anybody who witnessed the incident is asked to contact the Vermont State Police at 802-388-4919.

• On July 27 at approximately 9:03 p.m. received the report of a domestic disturbance on Monkton Road in Ferrisburgh. Police report that Casey Simpson, 21, of Ferrisburgh injured a household member and in doing so, violated his active court ordered conditions from a previous incident. Police took Simpson to the barracks and cited him for domestic assault and for violating conditions of release. Troopers then let him go after issuing a new set of active conditions of release.