William Gunther (VSP photo)

Vermont State Police arrested a Georgia man for drunken driving after a citizen called to report his erratic driving on Interstate 89, a press release said.

William Gunther, 59, was charged with driving under the influence, his second offense, on Friday, July 3 after police stopped him near the Williston rest area. According to the concerned caller, Gunther’s truck went off the roadway around Exit 11 and nearly crashed. He then reportedly continued northbound on the highway.

VSP determined Gunther was under the influence of alcohol during the roadside investigation. His preliminary breath sample showed .166 percent blood-alcohol content, police said.

After being processed at VSP’s Williston barracks, Gunther was released with a citation to appear in Chittenden Superior Court – Criminal Division on July 23.

Justin Smith
(VSP photo)

Vermont State Police arrested a Georgia man for driving under the influence Monday night after a witness saw him crash his motorcycle twice, a press release said.

Police received the call around 11 p.m. after a resident was awoken by the noise of the crash.

The caller watched the operator get back on his motorcycle and drive off, then followed the driver on Sodom Road and saw it crash again, police said.

Trooper Joseph Paquette arrived at the scene after rescue personnel checked the motorcycle operator, identified as Justin Smith, 27, for any injuries.

Once Smith was cleared, Paquette observed he was under the influence of alcohol, the press release said. Smith performed field sobriety tests and provided a preliminary breath sample registering .177 percent blood alcohol content.

Smith was released on a citation to appear in Franklin County Superior Court – Criminal Division on August 3, police said.

Justin Shepard (VSP photo)

Vermont State Police clocked a St. Albans driver doing 88 mph in a Milton work zone on Tuesday, a press release issued Thursday said.

Justin Shepard, 26, was cited for excessive speed following a traffic stop near the Interstate 89 bridge project, Trooper Michael Mattuchio said. The posted speed there is 55 mph, he said.

Up until July 17, construction crews had used rolling roadblocks to slow down traffic to 10 mph to keep workers safe. Slated for completion next fall, the project will replace the two ’60s era interstate bridges with one wider passageway.

Shepard will appear in Chittenden County Superior Court – Criminal Division on August 25, VSP said.

A 71-year-old Quebec man crashed his motorcycle, pictured above, on Georgia Shore Road last Saturday. He did not survive. (Photo by Dave St. Pierre)

By MESSENGER STAFF

A Quebec man was killed in a motorcycle accident last Saturday in Georgia.

According to Vermont State Police, Hector Messier, 71, of Frelighsburg, Quebec, was leading a group of eight motorcyclists south on Georgia Shore Road around 11 a.m. when his Suzuki motorcycle crossed the centerline on a sharp curve.

Arnaldo Rios, 56, of Swanton, was driving north in an Infiniti sports utility vehicle when he witnessed Messier cross the centerline, police said, striking the front of Rios’ SUV.

AmCare Ambulance staff pronounced Messier dead at the scene. His motorcycle was totaled.

Rios was uninjured; the front of his vehicle was damaged.

No charges have been filed in the accident, police said, and Rios’ account of the incident matched evidence at the scene.

Messier’s death is the second involving a motorcycle accident in in Georgia this year.

Timothee Morgan, 20, of St. Albans, was killed May 23 when his motorcycle left Polly Hubbard Road in Georgia and crashed into a wooded area. Speed played a role in that incident, VSP said.

A St. Albans man, driving drunk, led police on a 20-mile pursuit at speeds in excess of 100 mph, Vermont State Police said Saturday morning.

Brendan Berno, 27, was cited on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and while criminally suspended, VSP said in a press release Saturday morning.

Later on August 8, South Burlington police added citations for attempting to elude, gross negligent operation, excessive speed and violating conditions of release. Berno was on supervised release with the Vt. Department of Corrections and had active conditions stemming from a previous DUI charge, a press release said.

Officers attempted to pull over Berno’s green Volkswagen after witnessing him driving erratically near Al’s French Frys on Williston Road around 9 p.m. Friday, nearly striking another vehicle before leaving the parking lot, a press release said.

Berno accelerated, and a pursuit began up Interstate 89. He took Exit 17, continuing to barrel down Route 7, police said.

Berno then turned left onto West Milton Road, across a lawn and back onto the road before continuing down Route 7, police said. He traveled past Milton High School at a speed in excess of 100 mph in the wrong lane, police said.

South Burlington officers discontinued once they lost sight of Berno just beyond Milton village, VSP said.

A few miles north of there, near Georgia’s Ballard Road, Berno collided with a Mitsubishi driven by Michael Plavecki, 62, of Georgia, who had pulled onto Route 7 to travel north. Both vehicles overturned into a ditch, police said.

Both operators were transported to the University of Vermont Medical Center for non-life threatening injuries. Colchester and Milton police assisted in the investigation.

Berno is scheduled to appear in Chittenden Superior Court – Criminal Division on Tuesday, Aug. 11, police said.

Kyle Ovitt

Vermont State Police arrested three Fairfax residents in Georgia last week.

Both Kyle Ovitt, 25, and Allison Soutiere, 26, were cited for burglary and violating their conditions of release from previous offenses, VSP said. Kody Ovitt, 18, and Kyle Ovitt were also cited for petit larceny, police said.

All three were arrested on Route 7 in Georgia just before 1 p.m. last Thursday; police provided no further details as to where the alleged burglary occurred and did not respond to requests for information.

Kyle Ovitt was lodged at Northwestern Correctional Center in St. Albans on $5,000 bail and was cited into court that day.

Both he and Kody Ovitt will answer the petit larceny citations in Franklin County

Allison Soutiere

Superior Court – Criminal Division on September 28, VSP said. Kody Ovitt was released.

Soutiere was lodged at Chittenden County Correctional Center for lack of $3,500 bail and also cited into Franklin County court last Thursday, police said.

Kody Ovitt

Don Clogston, Sr. (VSP photo)

A St. Albans man was cited into court on numerous violations after Vermont State Police clocked him traveling 111 mph on Interstate 89 in Georgia on Monday, a press release said.

Don Clogston, Sr., 41, was cited with negligent operation after police observed him driving his silver Mazda MZ6 significantly faster than the posted 65 mph limit. He was stopped near mile marker 110 on I-89 southbound, VSP said.

Clogston was also cited for operating after suspension after troopers found his license was criminally suspended and for violating conditions of release that stipulated he shouldn’t operate a vehicle without a license, police said.

Clogston will answer the citation in Franklin Superior Court – Criminal Division on September 28, police said.

A Jay man was cited Friday morning in Georgia for excessive speed, Vermont State Police said.

VSP clocked Scott Whitaker, 31, traveling 98 miles per hour during morning commuter traffic on Interstate 89, near mile marker 107, a press release said.

Whitaker was released on a citation for excessive speed and careless and negligent operation and will appear in Franklin County Superior Court – Criminal Division on October 26, VSP said.

Tory Royal
(VSP photo)

Vermont State Police arrested a Georgia man for domestic assault late last Thursday night, a press release said.

Troopers responded to a Georgia residence just before midnight on September 10. Two individuals said a physical fight occurred before police arrived, VSP said.

Police arrested Tory Royal, 29, based on physical evidence at the scene and the victim’s injuries. He was lodged at Northwest State Correctional Center in St. Albans for lack of $500 bail and was scheduled to appear in Franklin County Superior Court – Criminal Division the following day.

Michael Spear
(VSP photo)

Vermont State Police cited a Georgia man on Wednesday evening for excessive speed, negligent operation and driving with a criminally suspended driver’s license after troopers observed him driving in excess of 110 mph on Interstate 89, a press release said.

Michael Spear, 50, was traveling nearly 50 miles over the posted speed limit near mile marker 106 in Georgia when troopers pulled him over and learned his license was suspended for three prior DUI convictions, police said.

Spear was cited and processed at the St. Albans VSP barracks. He was released and is scheduled to appear in Franklin County Superior Court ­– Criminal Division court on October 12.

Spear was the second driver cited for excessive speed on this stretch of highway in less than a week’s time. A Jay man was clocked doing 98 mph at mile marker 107 last Friday, Sept. 11 during morning commuter traffic, the Milton Independent reported.

Vermont State Police are looking for the driver of this truck, whom they say fled the scene after rear-ending a vehicle on Interstate 89 in Georgia on Friday afternoon. (Dave St. Pierre photo)

Vermont State Police are searching for a hit and run driver they say was responsible for a motor vehicle crash in Georgia this afternoon.

Police say the driver of a white 2001 pickup truck fled into the woods after rear-ending a 2005 Honda CRV on Interstate 89 southbound, totaling both vehicles, just before noon on Friday.

Reports indicate the truck may have been traveling at high speed when it crashed into the Honda, sending both vehicles spinning off the highway in opposite directions.

Police say the truck left the west shoulder, landing on its side down a 30-foot embankment, while the car landed on its side on the east shoulder about 15 feet from the highway.

The Honda was driven by Alan Roberts, 68, of Westmont, Quebec, who was wearing a seatbelt. Roberts and his wife sustained minor injuries in the crash and have since been released from the hospital, police said.

According to VSP, the truck operator fled into the woods on foot before officers arrived. A K-9 search unit was unsuccessful in locating the driver.

The stretch of interstate between Georgia and St. Albans was temporarily closed this afternoon while debris from the crash was removed.

The truck operator’s whereabouts are still unknown, and VSP request anyone who may have information to contact the St. Albans barracks at 524-5993.

Jeffrey Nichols (VSP photo)

Vermont State Police arrested the man they say totaled two vehicles and fled the crash scene on Georgia’s Interstate 89 last Friday, a press release Thursday said.

Jeffrey Nichols, 27, of Enosburg was cited today for leaving the scene of an accident, grossly negligent operation, aggravated operation without owner’s consent and unlawful trespass for his involvement in the crash, VSP said.

Police say Nichols was driving a 2005 Chevy Silverado truck he took from an acquaintance’s residence in Highgate without permission when he rear-ended a 2005 Honda CRV, sending both vehicles spinning off the road in opposite directions.

Police estimated Nichols was driving approximately 123 miles per hour at the time of the crash, which sent his vehicle off the west shoulder of the highway and down a 30-foot embankment. The victim’s Honda landed on its side on the east shoulder about 15 feet from the road, police said.

After the crash, police say Nichols walked back up to the highway, where several people were parked to render aid to the crash victims.

Vermont State Police say Nichols fled the scene after rear-ending a vehicle on Interstate 89 in Georgia last week. (Dave St. Pierre photo)

Nichols then fled into the woods on foot before police arrived, and a K9 unit was unable to locate him in the area, police said. He was later found at his residence in Enosburg and appeared to have no injuries from the crash, though he was not wearing a seatbelt, police said.

The Honda operator, Alan Roberts, 68, of Quebec, was wearing a seatbelt; he and his wife sustained minor injuries in the crash and were released from the hospital later that day.

Nichols is scheduled to appear in Franklin County Superior Court – Criminal Division on November 3. Police are still collecting evidence in the ongoing investigation, they say.

Matthew Richard
(VSP photo)

Vermont State Police cited yet another driver for excessive speed on Georgia’s Interstate 89 this week, a press release said.

Police stopped Matthew A. Richard, 31, of St. Albans after clocking him traveling 105 mph around mile marker 107 at 9:40 a.m. Tuesday, VSP said.

“Richard was immediately stopped for the criminal offense to ensure the safety for other motorists,” Trooper Richard Stepien wrote in his press release Tuesday.

Richards was arrested for excessive speed, a citation he’ll face in Franklin County Superior Court – Criminal Division next month, police said.

Richards is the third man cited for this crime on I-89 in Georgia since September 11, police have said.

Vermont State Police arrested a St. Albans man for driving more than 100 mph on Georgia’s stretch of Interstate 89, the latest excessive speed offense in a recent rash at that spot.

Police say Shawn M. Underwood, 48, was excessively speeding near mile marker 111 on Friday morning when a trooper stopped him “to ensure the safety of other motorists traveling the highway,” VSP’s press release said.

Underwood was released from VSP barracks with a citation to appear in Franklin County Superior Court – Criminal Division on November 30 to answer the charge of excessive speed, police said.

State police have arrested three other speeders on the same stretch of highway since September 11.

Vermont State Police said a projectile shattered a Colchester woman’s car window on Georgia’s Interstate 89 last weekend. Police said it appeared to come from a small caliber weapon, possibly a .22 or a BB gun.

Police said the driver was traveling south near mile marker 105 around 9:20 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14 when an unknown object hit her passenger side window. She told police the object appeared to come from the wood line on the right side of the highway, a press release said.

The driver and her two passengers were not injured in the incident, which VSP continue to investigate. They ask anyone who may have been in the area at the time to contact Cpl. Michelle LeBlanc at the Williston barracks, 878-7111.

Julie McDonald (VSP photo)

Vermont State Police arrested a Georgia woman for embezzling $2,000 from the Chittenden chapter of the Vermont State Employees Association, a press release Thursday said.

Julie McDonald, 51, is the chapter’s treasurer, VSP said. She stole the money between December 2012 and August 2015 but has since made efforts to repay the funds, the press release said.

The VSEA union represents more than 5,500 state workers in Vermont, according to its website. McDonald is one of six Chittenden County delegates to VSEA’s 120-member council, which “meets quarterly to guide the union and retains the authority to override the board of trustees,” its website says.

McDonald was processed at the VSP Williston barracks and released. She will appear in Chittenden Superior Court – Criminal Division on Jan. 12, 2016, VSP said.

Vermont State Police arrested an alleged drunken driver who flipped his vehicle on Milton’s Interstate 89 early Thursday morning, a press release said.

Michael R. Scherer, 25, of Winooski was cited for DUI after he crashed his car near mile marker 102 at 1:39 a.m. January 14, police said.

Evidence collected on the scene indicated Scherer first collided with a concrete Jersey barrier lining the median, then crossed both travel lanes and hit the metal guardrail. Police said Scherer’s 2014 sedan then likely traveled upside down “for a considerable distance” before it came to rest, upright, down a 15-foot steep embankment.

Milton fire and rescue crews also responded to the crash, VSP said.

Scherer refused to provide either a preliminary and evidentiary breath test during the investigation, police said. He reportedly told police he didn’t remember any part of the crash, including how fast he was driving, the press release said.

Scherer will answer the citation in Chittenden County Superior Court – Criminal Division on February 4, VSP said.

A traffic stop led police to find a local man illegally in possession of narcotics, a press release Saturday said.

Vermont State Police stopped Christopher Gaudette, 42, of Georgia for traveling at a high rate of speed on Route 7 in Georgia on Friday, Feb. 5 just before 10 p.m., police said.

Troopers suspected Gaudette was under the influence, and a preliminary breath test showed his blood-alcohol content at .08, the legal threshold for driving under the influence in Vermont, police said.

He allowed troopers to search his vehicle, where they found prescription narcotics possessed illegally, the press release said.

Police cited Gaudette on suspicion of DUI and possession of narcotics, which he’ll answer in Franklin County Superior Court – Criminal Division, and was released, police said.

Kristy Sweeney (VSP photo)

Vermont State Police arrested a Georgia woman for driving while on drugs, a press release said.

Police stopped 33-year-old Kristy Sweeney for multiple motor vehicle violations at 1 p.m. on Friday on Access Road in St. Albans. After further investigation, the trooper determined Sweeney was operating under the influence of drugs, police said.

Police transported Sweeney to the barracks, where she refused to undergo a drug test and was processed for criminal refusal, police said. Sweeney will appear in Franklin County Superior Court on May 16, police said.

A motor vehicle crash on Saturday resulted in a fire in the median on Interstate 89 in Georgia.

Vermont State Police reported Edward Borrazzo, 50, of South Burlington was traveling southbound at approximately 4 p.m. when his car went off the interstate into the median.

When police and rescue personnel arrived, the car was engulfed in flame, also catching the vegetation in the median on fire, police said. Firefighters from Georgia and St. Albans Town extinguished the blaze, a press release said.

Borrazzo was transported to Northwestern Medical Center for treatment.

The crash remains under investigation, but police say alcohol does not appear to be a factor.