Sometimes multiple people are injured in a motor vehicle crash and the negligent driver does have sufficient insurance to compensate all injured people for their losses. Many people can then pursue an underinsured (UIM) claim against their own insurance company even if they are not occupying their vehicle at the time of the crash. This can be a complicated area of personal injury law so please call David Polow today for a free consultation. I recommend not settling on an insurance claim until you have discussed your rights with an attorney. The crash described below in Interstate 91 involves multiple claims that could become complicated.
December 13, 2020
Westminster Barracks / Crashes involving wrong-way driver on I-91
STATE OF VERMONT
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
VERMONT STATE POLICE
NEWS RELEASE
MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH
CASE#: 20B105675
RANK/TROOPER FULL NAME: Sgt. Ryan Wood
STATION: Westminster
CONTACT#: 802-722-4600
DATE/TIME: 5:41 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020
STREET: Interstate 91 northbound
TOWN: Dummerston
INTERSTATE MILE MARKER: Mile Marker 16
WEATHER: Clear
ROAD CONDITIONS: Wet
SUMMARY OF CRASH:
Multiple people were injured in a series of crashes Sunday night, Dec. 13, 2020, on Interstate 91 in the town of Dummerston involving a wrong-way driver. The Vermont State Police investigation into this incident is active and ongoing at this time, and the highway is closed in both directions. The preliminary investigation shows the following:
Police received an emergency call at 5:41 p.m. Sunday from a southbound driver who reported seeing another driver headed south in the northbound lanes. A state trooper responding northbound on the interstate with his lights and siren activated encountered the wrong-way driver in a pickup truck. The trooper swerved to avoid a collision and was sideswiped by the pick-up truck. The cruiser suffered minor damage, and the trooper turned around in an attempt to safely stop the vehicle.
A short distance later, the pick-up truck collided head-on with a northbound van, causing the van to strike a third vehicle. Two other vehicles went off the road while taking evasive action to avoid collisions.
The wrong-way driver was transported by ambulance to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital with unknown injuries. State police are investigating whether impairment contributed to the incident.
The van was occupied by four individuals. Three of them were taken by ambulance to Brattleboro Memorial for treatment of unknown injuries. The fourth suffered serious injuries and was airlifted by the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Advanced Response Team helicopter (DHART) to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. That person’s condition was reported to be stable at the hospital.
The driver of the second pick-up truck suffered minor injuries and was transported by ambulance to Brattleboro Memorial. The drivers of the two other vehicles were evaluated on scene and released.
Vermont State Police investigators from the Crash Reconstruction Team are on scene. I-91 remains closed both north- and southbound between Exit 3 (Brattleboro) and Exit 4 (Putney). Motorists are advised to expect delays and take alternate routes. The Vermont Agency of Transportation is on scene assisting with the road closure.
Further details about the crash, including the names of the individuals and information regarding the vehicles involved, will be released after further investigation.
Police ask that anyone who witnessed the incident or who may have information that is relevant to the investigation call the Vermont State Police barracks in Westminster at 802-722-4600.
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