[A] head-on collision on Interstate 89 early Friday in Richmond resulted in the death of a motorist and serious injuries for two others, Vermont State Police announced Friday afternoon.
Commuters along Interstate 89 were stuck in standstill traffic Friday morning for several hours as a result of two separate car crashes — one involving southbound traffic and the other involving northbound traffic.
The northbound crash, which occurred before 7 a.m., happened when a 2015 Dodge Ram drifted from the southbound lanes of I-89, into the median, went airborne, and then struck a vehicle traveling north head on, according to a press release from state police.
Bruce Devenger, 48, of Sheffield, was driving the Dodge Ram. After the crash, he was brought to UVM Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, police report. They noted that alcohol, speed and inattention are believed to be the factors that contributed to the collision.
The passenger of Devenger’s car, Michael O’Neil, 72 of Sheffield, along with the driver and sole occupant of the Ford F-350, Kendall Roberts, 55, of Barre were taken to UVM Medical Center where they are being treated for serious injuries.
Police reported that both vehicles were totaled by the damage.
Vehicles backed up for several miles, and emergency responders set up detours to direct travelers to other routes, police said in a release.
Several hours later, as traffic was beginning to open up, police announced a secondary incident, occurring just before 9 a.m between a semi-truck and a van, caused by the vehicles swerving, according to Silverman. Both vehicles were seen in the median between northbound and southbound traffic. Silverman said the drivers sustained minor injuries.
Around 9:30 a.m, the interstate between Richmond and Waterbury reopened with one lane of travel for both northbound and southbound traffic.
In the aftermath of the crashes, one driver failed to pull over with the rest of traffic, and ultimately swerved at a high speed, almost striking a state trooper, according to Vermont State Police.
John Legault, 50, of St. Albans, was given a citation, nine points on his license (10 points results in a suspended license) and a $775 fine for his offenses.
The trooper in question was stationary in his “fully marked” police cruiser with emergency lights activated, when he observed a vehicle approaching from behind at a high rate of speed, failing to slow down or move to the sides of the road where the rest of traffic had stopped.
A press release from state police noted that the trooper realized a collision was imminent, and proceeded to quickly accelerate, moving his car partially into the median. At that time, the offending vehicle reportedly swerved, “almost striking the trooper.”
The officer ultimately stopped Legault, who said he was “distracted by a town truck that had its lights on.”
Legault was processed and released roadside, with a citation to appear in Chittenden County Superior Court.
This story was updated at 11:33 a.m. It will continue to be updated throughout the day.
