SALISBURY — Longtime Cornwall School Board member Junius Calitri and his wife, Klara Calitri, a well-known artist, were both seriously injured in a two-car crash at the intersection of West Salisbury Road and Route 7 in Salisbury last Thursday evening. On Friday they were both in the hospital recovering.
Vermont State Police Trooper Cathy Cappetta learned of the crash at around 7:30 p.m. Her preliminary investigation showed that Junius Calitri, 93, was driving a 2010 Toyota Prius east on West Salisbury Road and continued that course through the road’s intersection with Route 7.
Police said Calitri apparently did not see an oncoming white Subaru Legacy driven by Craig Rubright, 32, of Brandon, who was heading south on Route 7 through the intersection.
Rubright — who with a passenger, Steven Novak, 30, of Barre, sustained minor injuries in the accident — told police he did not have time to react to the Calitris’ Prius in his path. As a result, police said the Subaru hit the driver’s side panel of the Prius. Police said all involved except Klara Calitri were wearing seatbelts.
The Subaru came to rest in a field just off the northbound side of Route 7, just south of West Salisbury Road, facing southeast. The Prius ended up off the northbound side of the road, further south of the Subaru, also facing southeast, police said.
Junius and Klara Calitri, 88, were “seriously injured,” according to Cappetta. Both were taken to Porter Hospital, and Junius was later taken to Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, where he was listed in fair condition on Friday. Klara Calitri on Friday was being treated at Porter Hospital, where she was also listed in fair condition.
Middlebury rescue, Salisbury fire and rescue, and Brandon rescue personnel all responded to the scene along with police.
Any witnesses to this crash are encouraged to call Cappetta at the New Haven VSP barracks at 388-4919.
Junius Calitri has served as a Cornwall school director since 1995. He previously served the town as zoning administrator (from 1987 to 1996) and as a justice of the peace. He has also held leadership positions with the Addison County Democratic Committee.
In addition to being an acclaimed artist, Klara Calitri is a former language teacher.
John Flowers is at [email protected].