ADDISON COUNTY — Vermont State Police responded to several motor vehicle crashes on Route 22A in the past week.

In the first incident, Route 22A was shut down near Route 17  in Addison at about 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22 due to a motor vehicle crash. State police did not go into detail, but said that the highway was reopened shortly after 7 p.m.

On Saturday, Feb. 25, troopers rushed to Route 22A in Shoreham at around 10:14 p.m. for a one-car crash. Police report that 2022 Toyota Rav4 Prime was being driven southbound on a snowy Route 22A by Richard Larson, 71, of Wells when the car slid off the road into trees just off the northbound shoulder of the highway. Police said that crash occurred because Larson fell asleep. Larson and a passenger were taken by an ambulance to Porter Hospital for treatment of suspected minor injuries. The Toyota was considered a total loss.

 The next morning, Sunday, Feb. 26, at 10 a.m., troopers responded to a three-vehicle crash on Route 22A near East Road in Panton.

State police said their investigation showed that a 2021 Toyota Highlander driven by Courtney Brigham, 26, of Orwell was traveling northbound on the highway when it crossed the center line onto oncoming traffic. Max Rainsford, 28, of Glen Burnie, Md., was driving a 2013 VW Passat southbound when he saw the Highlander enter his lane, and he swerved to avoid a head-on collision. Apparently, the Highlander side-swiped the VW and then struck a guard rail. The VW spun from the southbound lane to the northbound lane into a snowbank. 

A 2009 Honda CRV driven by Marshall Cummings, 47, of Essex traveling on 22A sustain minor front end damage, but was able to stop in time to avoid greater tragedy.

The vehicles were all badly damaged, but police did not report any injuries.

The Vermont State Police remind drivers to keep a safe distance and to always wear your seat belt.

Elsewhere, state police were told on Feb. 23 that Thomas Utter, 34, of Bristol had violated a court order on the previous day. Police investigated and determined that he had, and they cited him for violations of an abuse-prevention order and conditions of release.