Montpelier, Vt. – January 25, 2010 – Three vehicles collided this morning in the southbound lane of Interstate 89 just prior to the Montpelier exit (exit #8) at approximately 3:25 AM, leaving two people dead and two injured in the aftermath of a horrific crash on icy roads. 

State Police reports say a loaded milk hauler owned by McDermott’s Inc. of Enosburg, Vt., lost control and jack-knifed while travelling south, coming to rest in a position blocking both lanes of the highway.

Following this tractor-trailer unit was a passenger vehicle, a 1997 Buick whose driver attempted to stop, but was struck from behind by a second tractor-trailer unit, another loaded milk hauler, this one owned by Vaillancourt Transport, also of Enosburg, Vt.

 The three vehicles collided and the tractor portions of both milk haulers caught fire. The McDermott’s tractor-trailer driver, identified as David Dike, 59, of Fletcher Vt., was able to escape and was transported to Central Vermont Hospital where he was treated and released say State Police.

 The Vaillancourt Transport tractor-trailer driver was pronounced dead at the scene.  The driver and passenger of the Buick were transported to Central Vermont Hospital where the driver was treated and released, however, the passenger was pronounced dead upon arrival at the emergency department. 

Police have withheld the names of the occupants of two vehicles  until  notification of their respective families can be ensured.

The weather at the time was cloudy with light rain and temperatures hovering right around the freezing mark; road conditions were wet with patches of ice report police.

 All lanes traveling north and south were closed until firefighters could extinguish the fire and ensure that the scene was safe. The northbound lane was re-opened at approximately 6:30 a.m.

The southbound lane is still closed at this time and will remain so for several hours until the vehicles are removed and the Agency of Transportation personnel are able to inspect the roadway for damage.

-Vermont Daily News report and Vermont State Police press release