Key Points
- A fatal crash occurred on Interstate 89 in Bolton, Vermont, late Friday morning.
- Vermont State Police confirmed that 62-year-old Janet Montgomery of Somerville, Massachusetts, was pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital.
- The crash took place near mile marker 73 in the northbound lanes just before noon.
- The vehicle, attempting to avoid a merging tractor-trailer unit, veered into the median and struck a tree.
- Both Montgomery and the unidentified driver were transported to UVM Medical Center with initially suspected minor injuries.
- According to police, Montgomery later died from injuries believed to be more serious than initially recognised.
- Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash, and no charges have yet been reported.
- The incident temporarily slowed traffic along I-89 but was later cleared for normal travel.
A Massachusetts woman has died following a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 89 in Bolton, Vermont, on Friday morning, according to reports from Vermont State Police and local media outlets.
What happened on I-89 in Bolton, Vermont?
According to WCAX News, the incident occurred shortly before noon on Friday near mile marker 73 in the northbound lanes of Interstate 89. Vermont State Police said the vehicle, carrying two occupants, swerved sharply into the median after attempting to avoid a merging tractor-trailer, resulting in a collision with a tree.
As reported by WCAX journalist Calvin Cutler, police confirmed that 62-year-old Janet Montgomery of Somerville, Massachusetts, was the passenger in the vehicle. Both she and the unidentified driver sustained injuries and were subsequently transported to the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVM Medical Center).
Who was the victim of the crash?
As confirmed by the Vermont State Police, the deceased has been identified as Janet Montgomery, aged 62, a resident of Somerville, Massachusetts. Montgomery was described as a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the incident.
In a press release cited by NBC5 News, police said that Montgomery was initially believed to have only minor injuries when emergency medical personnel first reached the scene. However,
“after being transported to UVM Medical Center, she succumbed to what were determined to be more serious injuries sustained in the crash,”
the release added.
The driver’s identity has not yet been released publicly, pending further investigation and notification of other family members.
What caused the crash, according to police?
As reported by Vermont State Police Trooper Ian Tifft in statements shared with MyNBC5, preliminary findings suggest that the crash was triggered when the car’s driver attempted to swerve to avoid a large tractor-trailer merging into traffic from an on-ramp. This manoeuvre caused the car to lose control, cross into the median, and collide forcefully with a tree.
Quoting the official police report shared by WCAX, investigators said:
“Initial findings indicate the vehicle travelled into the interstate median to avoid contact with a merging tractor-trailer unit. The vehicle subsequently struck a tree, resulting in significant damage.”
Trooper Tifft also noted that the emergency response was rapid, with both occupants transported “out of an abundance of caution” to UVM Medical Center. Despite early reports categorising the injuries as minor, Janet Montgomery’s condition reportedly deteriorated shortly after arrival.
How are authorities responding to the incident?
The Vermont State Police Crash Reconstruction Team has launched a formal investigation into the cause and circumstances surrounding the crash. In a statement provided to NECN, police emphasised that weather and road conditions would be examined as potential contributing factors, though no official determination has yet been made.
Police also confirmed that no other vehicles were directly involved in the collision, and the tractor-trailer that the vehicle attempted to avoid was not struck.
As mentioned by VTDigger, Vermont State Police are continuing to seek witnesses who may have seen the incident or have relevant dashcam footage from the time of the crash. Authorities say this could help them
“better determine how the events unfolded leading up to the collision.”
What do hospital officials say?
Hospital representatives at UVM Medical Center in Burlington, speaking to WCAX journalist Calvin Cutler, stated they could not release specific details on Montgomery’s treatment due to privacy laws. However, they confirmed that both occupants were admitted for trauma evaluation shortly after rescue transports arrived around midday.
Emergency responders also relayed that Montgomery displayed “seemingly stable vital signs upon initial assessment,” but that internal injuries may have been “more severe than initially detected,” as one Vermont EMS official told NBC5 on condition of anonymity.
Was anyone else injured in the crash?
The driver of the vehicle, whose identity remains withheld, also sustained injuries described as minor by state police. They were treated at the same facility and later released, according to MyNBC5 coverage.
Law enforcement officials noted that proper seatbelt use was observed, and airbags deployed during the crash, factors believed to have mitigated further casualties.
What have investigators said about the tractor-trailer driver?
As indicated by ABC22/Fox44, investigators have contacted and interviewed the driver of the tractor-trailer unit involved in the near-collision sequence. Police described the encounter as “a contributing circumstance but not a collision event.”
Authorities did not confirm whether the lorry driver would face citations, stating that findings will depend on further review of witness statements, vehicle telemetry, and scene reconstruction data.
How did the incident affect traffic on I-89?
The crash led to temporary lane closures in the northbound direction between Williston and Bolton, causing significant traffic delays during midday travel hours. The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) said that vehicles were rerouted through a single lane for roughly an hour while state police and tow crews cleared the scene.
According to the VTrans public advisory, normal traffic patterns were restored by approximately 1:30 p.m. on Friday, and debris removal operations concluded shortly thereafter.
What is next in the investigation?
Vermont State Police have emphasised that the case remains open. In a separate update shared with The Burlington Free Press, officials reiterated that investigators are examining speed, reaction distance, and median surface conditions as potential factors.
A state police spokesperson added that toxicology screenings and a detailed mechanical analysis of the vehicle are routine steps in such fatal cases.
“We want to establish a full factual record,”
the spokesperson said.
What have authorities urged drivers to do?
Authorities used the tragic crash as an opportunity to remind drivers to remain vigilant when encountering merging heavy vehicles on high-speed motorways, especially during winter months.
As stated by Vermont Department of Public Safety Commissioner Michael Schirling in remarks cited by NBC5,
“Accidents like these underline the importance of maintaining safe following distances and scanning ahead for merging traffic. Even well-intentioned avoidance manoeuvres can become deadly under the wrong conditions.”
Community reaction and condolences
News of Montgomery’s death prompted expressions of sympathy from both local Vermont residents and members of the Somerville community in Massachusetts. Social media posts underlined the unpredictability of road conditions and the value of safe driving practices.
A user on WCAX’s official Facebook page commented:
“So sad to hear someone’s life was lost in what might have seemed like a momentary swerve. My heart goes out to her family and the driver surviving this tragedy.”
What to expect moving forward
Investigators say they will release additional findings once full autopsy and reconstruction reports become available. Vermont State Police encourage any witnesses with knowledge of the crash or dashcam footage from Friday morning to contact the Williston Barracks at (802) 878-7111.
While the scene has been cleared, this incident serves as a sobering reminder for motorists travelling along I-89, a corridor known for challenging traffic dynamics between Burlington and Montpelier, particularly during adverse conditions.