Police Out in Force
After Deadly Week

Following a deadly week on Vermont highways, Vermont State police announced this week that they will join a nationwide July 3-8 campaign to reduce motor vehicle crashes through high-visibility enforcement.

Vermont has experienced five fatalities since Friday, June 29, in five separate collisions on public highways Sgt. John Flannigan, VSP’s public information officer. Two victims in those collisions were operating a motorcycle, and one of those accidents occurred on Route 100 in Granville Friday night.

There have been 37 motor vehicle fatalities in Vermont so far this year.  

Over the holiday week, troopers will participate in Operation C.A.R.E. (Combined Accident Reduction Effort). In planned "saturation patrols" and checkpoints, state police will focus on enforcement of safety belts, speed, and aggressive drivers.

Troopers will work extra patrols in addition to regular duties during this week.

"Most collisions are preventable and attributed to operator error," said Sgt. Flannigan. "Speeding, impaired driving, and unrestrained occupants are contributing factors in many traffic fatalities.

The Vermont State Police would like to remind motorists to slow down, buckle up, and drive responsibly."

All Summer

Also this week, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department announced that it will conduct safety/sobriety checkpoints and saturation patrols within Orange County throughout the months of July and August.

According to a release from Lt. David Eggum, other area law enforcement agencies will join OCSD in this campaign, which will have a particular focus on seat belt and child safety seat usage