Trucker Is Found Dead
At Sharon Rest Area

A 51-year-old truck driver from Colorado was found dead last Wednesday, Dec. 28 in his tractor-trailer, which was parked at the southbound rest area on I-89 in Sharon.

State police said James Truett’s truck sat at least two days at the rest area before his body was found. The death is considered untimely, and police are trying to determine why Truett was in Sharon—which was not on his route—and for how long his truck was parked at the rest stop.

According to state police Det. Kraig LaPorte, there was nothing in the Colorado man’s medical history that would cause a sudden death. An autopsy was performed, but it may be weeks before cause of death is known.

The detective said there was no evidence to suggest that anyone else had been in the truck cab with Truett around the time of his death, nor any sign of foul play. Nonetheless, there are some mysterious aspects to the case.

Truett had made a scheduled stop to pick up a load in St. Albans on Dec. 23, and was scheduled to head directly west, back to his Nevada-based company. The Friday stop was the last known contact with Truett. Family members and co-workers have told the detective that Truett typically called in daily, Det. LaPorte said.

Truett was reported missing on Sunday, Dec. 25, after he failed to make a scheduled stop in Oklahoma.

Truett’s truck was at the Sharon rest area at least two days. It was not initially checked as it was suspected of being in need of repair. Another truck driver, who observed the white Peterbuilt tractor trailer as he drove that stretch of I-89 several times during the two days, asked police to check on it. Truett’s body was subsequently found inside the cab by a rest stop attendant.

Anyone who saw Truett’s truck between the time he left St. Albans Dec. 23 and Monday, Dec. 26, when the rig was first noticed at the rest area, is asked to call state police in Royalton at 234-9933.

The tractor bore the company name "WTI" on its side, police said.

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