MEMBERS OF MIDDLEBURY Heavy Rescue, along with other first responders. attend to a Toyota Corolla that crashed into a tree off Route 30 in Cornwall on Jan. 19. The driver and passenger were taken to hospitals, and the road was closed for an hour and a half while the people were removed and the scene cleaned up.
Photo courtesy of Vermont State Police

ADDISON COUNTY — Two people were sent to the hospital — one by helicopter — after their car went off Route 30 in Cornwall and hit a tree this past Thursday morning.

The weather was icy and the roads were wet when Vermont State Police were called on Jan. 19 at about 11 minutes after 7 a.m. to a one-car crash on Route 30 a few hundred yards before the Middlebury town line. Police reported that Carl Anderson, 57, of Sudbury was driving a 2013 Toyota Corolla southbound on Route 30 when the car crossed the center line briefly then then went off the road on the southbound side. 

The Corolla apparently went airborne before striking a tree and landing on its roof. Troopers said that speed and road conditions were factors that contributed to the crash. 

State and Middlebury police rushed to the scene, as did Middlebury Fire and Rescue, Middlebury Regional EMS and Bristol Rescue. 

Anderson, who police said was not wearing a seat belt, was flown by LifeNet Helicopter to UVM Medical Center for suspected major injures. Anderson asked that the hospital not release his condition to the public. A seat belted passenger, 55-year-old Joann Anderson of Sudbury, was taken to Porter Hospital for treatment of suspected minor injuries. 

Route 30 was closed for approximately one and a half hours due to the crash.

Vermont State Police remind drivers that wearing seatbelts helps save lives and urge people to drive according to weather conditions. 

Route 30 wasn’t the only local road closed by state police in the last week. Route 22A in between Routes 125W and 17W in Bridport was closed between around 3:30 and 5:30 a.m. on Jan. 20 due to a multiple-vehicle crash involving a tractor-trailer, several cars and utility poles with wires down. State officials noted that the roads were icy because of the recent snowfall, but did not give any more details on the crash.

Snowy, wet road conditions were noted later that day when state police responded to two-vehicle crash on Route 7 near the intersection of Route 22A in Ferrisburgh. Troopers report that a 2010 Mercedes Benz driven by Alexandre Elvitsky, 69, of Vergennes was southbound on Route 7 behind a 2017 Chevy Silverado pickup driven by Michael Breen, 72, of Bristol when the pickup stopped for a red light and the Mercedes failed to stop, striking the rear end of the truck. No injuries were reported. State police issued Elvitsky a ticket for following too closely, which carries a $220 fine and three points on his insurance.

In other recent activity, state police:

• On Jan. 18 at around 12:40 p.m. responded to an anonymous tip on the whereabouts of Randy McEntee, 27, of South Burlington, who was wanted for six outstanding warrants from South Burlington. Troopers located McEntee at the Sugar House Motel in New Haven, took him into custody without incident and transported him to the Middlebury Police Department for processing. Police then took McEntee to Addison County Superior Court, Criminal Division, for arraignment.

• On Jan. 21 at 8:46 p.m. three troopers responded when a car crashed into a house on Leicester-Whiting Road at the intersection of Memoe Road. Police said Storm Brown, 23, of Whiting had been driving the 2004 Saab that crashed into the house, and that Brown showed signs of impairment. They cited Brown for refusing to take an evidentiary test for driving under the influence, negligent driving and reckless endangerment. Brandon Rescue took Brown to Porter Hospital for suspected minor injuries.

Troopers were assisted by the Brandon Fire Department and Leicester Service Central Towing.

Police closed Leicester-Whiting Road for about three hours because of the crash and for a suspected gas leak.

• On Jan. 23 at 8:40 p.m. responded to a report of multiple discharges of a firearm at the intersection of Leicester-Whiting Road and Swinington Hill Road in Leicester. Police looked into the report and determined that Christopher Bridgmon, 37, of Leicester was at a home in violation of court orders. In addition, state police said Bridgmon also had an active warrant for his arrest. 

Troopers arrested Bridgmon and took him to Marble Valley Regional Correctional Center and cited him for violation of conditions of release.

The circumstances surrounding the firearm discharges are still under investigation. Anyone who may have information about this incident is asked to contact Trooper Brandon Slaney of the New Haven barracks at 802-388-4919. Information can also be submitted anonymously online at vtips.info or by texting CRIMES (274637) to Keyword: VTIPS.

• On Jan. 23 at 10:30 p.m. state police returned to the Sugar House Motel in response to a 911 hang-up call. After investigating, police report that Tionna Young, 23, of New Haven violated her court-ordered conditions by having contact with a protected person. Police arrested Young, took her to the New Haven barracks and cited her for violation of conditions of release.