A Winooski man accused of a carjacking in Bradford and causing multiple crashes along Interstate 89 on Sunday was released Monday on $10,000 bail while awaiting trial.
Christopher White, 37, was arraigned Monday in Washington County Superior court on 11 charges, including driving under the influence, reckless endangerment, gross negligent driving, leaving the scene of an accident and driving after license suspension. White had to post $1,000 cash toward the $10,000 bail.
White pretended to be struck by an SUV in a Hannaford Supermarket parking lot in Bradford, police in that town said. He lay on the ground as if he were injured, and when the driver opened the car door to check on White, he pulled her out of the vehicle and drove off.
The stolen vehicle — a white Chevrolet Equinox — then headed north on Interstate 89, where it caused crashes in Barre City, Berlin and Middlesex, Vermont State Police alleged, plus a multi-vehicle collision in Waterbury that shut down both northbound lanes on I-89. The Equinox crashed farther north on I-89 in Bolton.
No deaths or serious injuries were reported in any of the crashes, though some people were taken to UVM Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries, police said.
Traffic was held up for nearly an hour and a half on Interstate 89 while police investigated the crashes, the wreckage was cleared off the highway and crews “normalized the scene,” according to the Vermont State Police report.
At Monday’s hearing, defense attorney Dan Sedon said White pleaded not guilty on each count.
Deputy State’s Attorney Dickson Corbett asked the court to set bail at $10,000, “based on mental character, as reflected in the Orange County case [the Bradford carjacking],” and White’s history of a failure to appear in court for violating a court order.
Bail conditions include 24/7 supervision by his father, Christopher R. White, and White is not allowed to access vehicles. He’s under a 24-hour curfew, must submit to alcohol testing upon request of law enforcement, must not exhibit violent behavior and must have no contact with three specific people affected by his erratic driving.
If White violates any of these conditions, his father has agreed to report him to Vermont State Police, bail could be revoked and he could face additional charges. He must also go through a clinical assessment of substance abuse and comply with the resulting recommendations.
