Exit 16 Crash Injured Several Fairfax People today around 4:45 pm

[Henry]

                   STATE OF VERMONT
               DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
                 VERMONT STATE POLICE

PRESS RELEASE
MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH

CASE#:14A102240
TROOPER:Neil Carey
STATION: Williston
CONTACT#: 802-878-7111

DATE/TIME: May 21, 2014 1645 Hours
LOCATION: I-89 North, MM91 in the area of Exit 16
I
VEHICLE #1
OPERATOR: Kelli Salls
AGE:19
SEAT BELT? Y
CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Swanton, VT

DESCRIPTION OF VEHICLE: 2007 Ford Focus
DAMAGE TO VEHICLE: Front and rear end damage with airbag deployment.

VEHICLE #2
OPERATOR: Female
AGE:40
SEAT BELT? N
CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Fairfax, VT

DESCRIPTION OF VEHICLE: 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt
DAMAGE TO VEHICLE: Front and rear end damage with airbag deployment.

INJURIES
V # 1: The operator, who was wearing her seatbelt was taken to the hospital
      with non-life threatening injuries.

V # 2: The operator, who was not wearing her seatbelt was taken to the hospital
      with non-life threatening injuries.

      Passenger Female 38, of Fairfax was not wearing a seatbelt and
      was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

      Passenger Female, 20, of Fairfax was wearing a seatbelt and was
      taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

HOSPITAL: Fletcher Allen Healthcare, Burlington, VT
WEATHER: Clear
ROAD COND: Hazard in the roadway.

SUMMARY OF CRASH: On May 21, 2014 at approximately 1645 Hours, Troopers responded to a report of a two vehicle crash in the area of Exit 16 on I89 North. There was extensive damage to both vehicles with airbag deployment. All of the involved parties were transported to Fletcher Allen Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The accident caused the right travel lane to be shut down while rescue crews extracted one of the operators.

  Investigation revealed that the vehicle being driven by Female, was following a friend who was moving a couch in his pickup. One of the couch cushions flew out of the truck and Female pulled over to the right shoulder and stopped, thinking she or a passenger would be able to retrieve the cushion. Female who was operating behind Female in the left lane, swerved to avoid the couch cushion, resulting in a collision.

  The Vermont State Police remind everyone to properly secure their loads prior to transport and that stopping your vehicle on the interstate should only be done in the event of an emergency.




Trooper Neil H. Carey
Vermont State Police
2777 St. George Road
Williston, VT 05495
802-878-7111


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