State police: Two die in fiery I-89 crash on Sunday

July 29, 2024 | By Lisa Scagliotti

A single-vehicle crash and resulting fire on Interstate 89 in Middlesex Sunday morning claimed the lives of a 19- and 20-year-old from Duxbury, Massachusetts, according to Vermont State Police. 

The weather was foggy, the road clear with little traffic when the pair was northbound in Middlesex a few minutes after 5 a.m., according to Trooper Dalton Maenpaa from the Berlin barracks. 

Driving the 2006 Lexus sedan was 19-year-old Sean Delaney; 20-year-old Elana Korey was a front-seat passenger, police said. There were no others in the vehicle. 

When first responders arrived, the vehicle was off the right side of the road having crashed into a rock ledge and fully engulfed in flames. Both occupants were pronounced deceased at the scene, according to the police report. 

The incident happened at mile marker 60.6 and the northbound lanes of I-89 were shut down for four hours Sunday morning until the scene could be cleared. 

In addition to state police, the Middlesex Fire Department and First Aid Stabilization Team (FAST) along with the Montpelier Fire Department and Ambulance Service responded to the call. 

The investigation determined that speed was a contributing factor to the crash. Police noted that the incident happened at a time of low traffic. Anyone with information about this incident should contact the Berlin state police barracks at 802-229-9191. 

No one hurt in I-89 crash in Bolton 

Vermont State Police said no one was hurt late Saturday night in a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 89 in Bolton.

The incident happened at approximately 11 p.m. on the southbound side of the highway near mile marker 70. A 2014 Dodge Charger driven by Taylor Griffin, 24, of Waterbury rear-ended a 2012 Toyota RAV4 driven by Cayla Hammaker, 28, of South Burlington. The Charger sustained heavy front-end damage and the RAV4 had heavy rear-end damage, according to troopers.

Both drivers were wearing seat belts and neither was treated for any injuries, police said. 

During the investigation of the crash, troopers said that Griffin appeared to be impaired. He was taken to the Berlin barracks for processing and released with a citation to appear in Chittenden Superior Court Criminal Division on Aug. 15 to answer to the charge of Driving Under the Influence, the report states.