State police: Help sought in dump truck rollover; wrong-way driver stopped on I-89

May 8, 2024  |  By Lisa Scagliotti 

May 14: This post was updated with a description of the unknown vehicle in the truck rollover.

The driver of this dump truck was wearing a seatbelt and not seriously hurt when his rig went down an embankment in Richmond on Sunday. Photo by Bolton Fire Department

No one was seriously hurt but Vermont State Police are seeking the public’s help in investigating an incident that sent a large dump truck down a steep bank along Interstate 89 in Richmond on Sunday. 

In a separate incident late last week, troopers report catching a wrong-way driver on I-89 in Central Vermont before anyone was hurt. 

Sunday’s incident happened just before 5 p.m. near Exit 11 in Richmond. 

Mitchel Richardson, 41, of South Hero, was driving a 2000 International dump truck, traveling northbound on the highway. According to a report by state Trooper Quincy Chandler, “an unidentified vehicle merged on Interstate 89 from Richmond and abruptly applied their brakes.”

To avoid hitting the vehicle, Richardson in the truck swerved and collided with a Subaru Outback driven by Brian Kelly, 49, of Bristol, Connecticut, police said.

Kelly was able to come to a stop safely but Richardson lost control of his truck which went over the guardrail and down the steep embankment between U.S. Route 2 and I-89.

Richardson was taken to the University of Vermont Medical Center with minor injuries. He was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident, police said. The dump truck was totaled. 

The Subaru had minor damage. Neither Kelly nor his two family member passengers were injured, police said.  

Weather conditions were rainy and the road was wet, according to the report. 

Rt. 2 was closed at the site for several hours while crews worked to remove the truck. State Police were assisted by personnel from the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles, Richmond Rescue, Richmond Fire Department, Bolton Fire Department and TDI Repair and Towing.

The third vehicle and driver involved in this crash remains unidentified. Trooper Chandler said witnesses believe it was a red SUV, possibly of Toyota make. State police ask that the driver or anyone who may have witnessed the crash contact Chandler at the Williston Barracks at 802-878-7111. 

I-89 wrong way, Waterbury to Barre

Vermont state troopers, DMV and Montpelier Police managed to stop a late-night wrong-way driver on Interstate 89 recently before any damage or injuries occurred. 

The incident began at 10:45 p.m. on Thursday, May 2, when Trooper Jon Prack said state police received a report of a wrong-way driver traveling south in the northbound lanes of I-89 near mile marker 61.8 in Waterbury. The location is just south of Exit 10 in Waterbury. 

Troopers spotted the blue Volkswagen Jetta in question. With assistance from Montpelier Police and Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles Enforcement, police stopped the vehicle near mile marker 47 just north of South Barre Exit 6. 

Police identified the driver as Carter Maxfield, 28, of Burlington. Maxfield was taken to the Berlin state police barracks and issued citations for Driving Under the Influence and Gross Negligent Operation. He was released and scheduled to appear in Washington Superior Court, Criminal Division, later this month, police said.