Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Crash sends local man to hospital

Rutland Herald
By Dan Colton

STAFF WRITER | July 19,2016


Anthony Edwards / Staff Photo Emergency workers respond to a single-car crash at the intersection of Route 4 and Altrui Place in Rutland Town on Monday afternoon.
Authorities said a medical emergency likely caused a Killington man to crash his vehicle on Route 4 on Monday and lost control while driving.

Trooper Aron McNeil of the Vermont State Police said Louis Belfore, 73, was seen traveling east near Rutland High School, slumped over in his seat.

Police said the eyewitness saw Belfore’s eastbound Kia Sorento cross the road’s centerline into the westbound lane. The vehicle went off the road and crashed into the Needham Electrical Supply sign, knocking it down and damaging the sign’s stone platform.

The Altrui Place street sign was damaged and bent, police said, the Kia’s airbag was deployed.

McNeil said the witness was driving in front of Belfore and saw him in the rearview mirror.

Belfore was taken to Rutland Regional Medical Center by Regional Ambulance Service. The Rutland Town Fire Department responded to the scene and assisted medical technicians, McNeil said.

Bernadette Robin, hospital spokeswoman, said Belfore was in fair condition around 5:40 p.m. Monday. Belfore’s vehicle sustained heavy front-end damage and had to be towed from the scene by Carrara’s Services.

Police said Belfore possibly suffered a stroke before the crash. There were no skid marks on the road to indicate he tried to use his brakes, police said.

McNeil said the crash remains under investigation. Speed and alcohol aren’t considered to be factors in the crash, he said.

dan.colton @rutlandherald.com

No comments: