By Tiffany Williams –
VERMONT — Eight drivers were arrested on suspicion of impaired driving in separate incidents across Vermont between October 16 and October 18, including two single-vehicle crashes and a third crash on Interstate 91 that left an occupant injured and sent the driver to court on multiple charges.
The Vermont State Police reports detail arrests in St. Johnsbury, Putney, Craftsbury, Fairlee, Cavendish, Rutland City and Weathersfield. The cases include routine traffic stops, reports of possible impaired driving and crashes that brought troopers to the scene. All eight individuals were released with citations to appear in court.
The most serious crash was reported at approximately 12:49 a.m. Sunday, October 18, on Interstate 91 northbound near mile marker 49 in Weathersfield. Troopers from the Westminster Barracks were responding to a single-vehicle crash when dispatchers advised them that the driver and several occupants had left the scene.
One occupant remained at the crash site with injuries and was transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. Police later located everyone who had been inside the vehicle and identified the driver as Jabari Carr, 20, of Sutton, Vermont.
Investigators reported observing signs of impairment and arrested Carr. He was taken to the Westminster Barracks for processing and later released with a criminal citation. He faces allegations of DUI refusal, negligent operation resulting in injury and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury. Carr is scheduled to appear in Vermont Superior Court’s Windsor Criminal Division on November 3 at 8:15 a.m.
Another crash brought state police to Black River Road near Vermont Route 14 in Craftsbury at approximately 5:17 p.m. Saturday, October 17. Troopers and Orleans County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to a reported single-vehicle crash involving a 2011 Toyota Tundra operated by Michael Ruetz, 37, of Walden.
The truck sustained damage to its side and roof, according to the crash report. Police also reported that Ruetz was not wearing a seat belt. While speaking with him, troopers noticed indicators of impairment and arrested him on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Ruetz was transported to the Derby Barracks for processing before being released with a citation. His appearance in Orleans County Superior Court is scheduled for November 3 at 8:30 a.m. The report described clear weather and dry road conditions but did not identify the cause of the crash.
Hours later, at approximately 9:02 p.m., state police received a report of a single-vehicle crash on Vermont Route 131 in Cavendish. Investigators determined that the driver, Deegan Aiken, 22, of Ludlow, was allegedly operating under the influence of intoxicants.
Aiken was arrested and taken to the Springfield Police Department for processing. He was subsequently released with a citation to appear in Windsor Criminal Division on November 3 at 8:15 a.m. The police report did not provide details about vehicle damage or injuries in that crash.
In St. Johnsbury, troopers responded to a report of a potentially impaired driver near Memorial Drive at approximately 9:35 p.m. Friday, October 16. They located a 2022 Ford F-350 operated by Nicholas Pike, 45, of Sutton, on Hospital Drive.
Police stopped the pickup on the Interstate 91 northbound Exit 22 on-ramp and reported observing signs of impairment. Pike was arrested on suspicion of a first DUI offense, processed at the St. Johnsbury Barracks and released with a citation to appear in Caledonia Criminal Court on November 2 at 8:30 a.m.
Just after midnight Saturday, October 17, troopers in Putney stopped a vehicle on U.S. Route 5 near River Road for a motor vehicle violation. The driver was identified as Abigail Squiers, 23, of Vernon.
State police reported that further investigation indicated Squiers was under the influence of alcohol. She was arrested on suspicion of a first DUI offense, taken to the Westminster Barracks and released with a criminal citation. Her arraignment is scheduled for November 10 at 8:30 a.m. in Windham Criminal Division.
A second Putney arrest occurred at approximately 6:45 p.m. Saturday, when Westminster Barracks troopers on routine patrol observed a motor vehicle violation on U.S. Route 5 near Rounds Hill Road.
The driver, Tavish Snow, 35, of Putney, showed indicators of impairment during the investigation, according to police. Snow was arrested on suspicion of a second DUI offense, transported to the Westminster Barracks for processing and released with a citation. He is scheduled to appear in Windham Criminal Division on November 10 at 8:30 a.m.
In Fairlee, a trooper patrolling U.S. Route 5 near Lake Morey Road observed a motor vehicle violation at approximately 7:38 p.m. Saturday and conducted a traffic stop. The driver was Nicholas Dubuque, 44, of Thetford.
Police reported signs of impairment and administered standardized field sobriety tests. Dubuque was subsequently arrested on suspicion of a first DUI offense, processed at the Bradford Outpost and released with a citation to appear in Orange County Criminal Court on November 4 at 8:30 a.m.
Another arrest occurred earlier Saturday in Rutland City. At approximately 12:38 a.m., troopers from the Rutland Barracks observed a motor vehicle violation and stopped a driver on Cottage Street near West Street.
Police identified the driver as Joziah Cox, 25, of Clarendon, and reported observing several signs of impairment while speaking with him. Cox was arrested on suspicion of DUI and transported to the state police barracks in Rutland Town for processing.
Cox was released with a criminal citation to appear in Vermont Superior Court’s Rutland Criminal Division on November 2 at 10 a.m.
The eight cases reflect a range of enforcement circumstances, from traffic violations that led to roadside investigations to crashes requiring responses from state troopers and other emergency personnel. The Weathersfield case was the only incident among the eight reports that explicitly described an injured occupant being transported to a hospital.