THETFORD — A 27-year-old woman was killed when the car she was riding in on Interstate 91 on Saturday afternoon hit a guardrail and rolled over, and the man behind the wheel is facing criminal charges, police said.
A 2004 Pontiac GTO driven by 40-year-old Joseph Hamilton, from Plaistow, N.H., was traveling southbound on I-91 near mile marker 83.4 at about 2 p.m. when it failed to maintain its lane, according to a news release from Vermont State Police.
Alyssa Tetreault, of Pepperell, Mass., died at the scene, police said.
Hamilton has been charged with gross negligent operation — death resulting.
Neither Hamilton nor Tetreault were wearing seat belts, police said.
Hamilton, who “suffered suspected major injuries,” was transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.
Two juvenile passengers — an 8-year-old from Billerica, Mass., and a 5-year-old from Pepperell, Mass. — who suffered minor injuries were also transported to DHMC as a precaution, police said. The children were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash, which totaled the vehicle.
In addition to state police, the Thetford Fire Department, Upper Valley Ambulance and Vermont Agency of Transportation also responded.
Hamilton is scheduled to appear in Orange County Criminal Court on June 11.
This crash remains under investigation, and officials ask that those who witnessed it contact Trooper Rodzel at 802-222-4680.