VSP: Montpelier woman again drove the wrong way on I-89

February 27, 2025 | By Eric Blaisdell | Times Argus staff writer

BARRE — A Montpelier woman is accused of driving the wrong way on Interstate 89 for the second time since November.

Carole Brown, 57, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Washington County criminal court in Barre to a felony count of negligent operation while eluding law enforcement and a misdemeanor count of gross negligent operation, a misdemeanor count of reckless endangerment, two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence and a misdemeanor count of driving over the legal limit of alcohol in her system. 

If convicted, Brown faces a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison. She was released on conditions, including a prohibition against driving unless to a verified medical appointment in Berlin.

Trooper David Lambert, of the Vermont State Police, said in his affidavit a wrong-way driver was reported on the interstate near Montpelier early Tuesday morning. Lambert said the vehicle was heading south in the northbound lane. He said dispatch later reported the vehicle was driving north in the southbound lane near Middlesex.

The trooper said he responded and the vehicle drove toward and past him while in the same lane on the interstate despite his cruiser’s blue lights flashing.

Lambert said police used spike strips and the vehicle drove over them. He said he caught up with the vehicle, which was driving slowly with its flat tires, and pulled in front of it so that it would stop. Lambert said the driver was identified as Brown through her driver’s license. He said Brown reported she was trying to get home but missed her exit in Montpelier. 

Brown was driving a 2012 Toyota Camry, police said.

The trooper noted Brown’s speech was slurred, and she appeared “unusually mellow” given the circumstances. He said she denied drinking any alcohol. Lambert said Brown later gave a sample of her breath, which showed she had a blood-alcohol content of 0.044%.

For two of the DUI charges Brown faces, police said witnesses reported Brown appeared intoxicated when she went to buy beer at a store in Montpelier last month. Police said Brown was later pulled over and denied drinking alcohol, but breath tests showed she had a blood-alcohol content of 0.054% about two hours after police were initially called. Brown pleaded not guilty in December to a misdemeanor count of gross negligent operation and a misdemeanor count of reckless endangerment. If convicted in that case, she faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison.

In that case, police said Brown drove southbound in the northbound lane of Interstate 89 early in the morning in Berlin in November. A trooper reported he had to switch lanes to avoid hitting Brown head-on. Police said Brown was stopped on the interstate and reported she had missed her exit.

This story was published by the Times Argus on Feb. 25.