Local Men Killed in Vermont Crash

Staff reportsiBerkshires
Print Story | Email Story
STAMFORD, Vt. — A devastating tractor-trailer crash in Woodford, Vt., on Wednesday claimed the lives of two local men.

Jeffrey Lamore, 29, of Stamford and Thomas Peterson, 32, of Readsboro were killed when a tractor-trailer truck crushed their vehicle.

The driver of a second car, Paul Beebe, 53, was air flighted to Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition.

Police had withheld the names of Lamore and Peterson until Thursday afternoon because of difficulty indentifying their remains. Autopsies were performed on Thursday.

Sgt. Michael Marvin of the Vermont State Police said early Thursday morning that the men's families had been contacted on Wednesday.

The victims' car was engulfed in flames after being hit by the tractor-trailer truck at about 1:30 p.m. at the Route 9 bridge spanning City Stream just east of the town offices.

According to police, the tractor-trailer, driven by Kenneth A. Middlebusher, was heading west on Route 9 when his load shifted coming around the turn leading onto the bridge. The truck swerved into the eastbound lane, striking the victims' car, then continued sliding into a second vehicle, trapping its driver inside.

The Lamore and Peterson were declared dead at the scene, according to the Bennington Banner. It reportedly took firefighters more than an hour to remove the driver from the second vehicle.

Middlebusher was able to walk away from the scene.

Middlebusher, 42, of Deptford, N.J., pleaded not guilty in Vermont District Court in Bennington on Thursday afternoon to charges of gross and negligent operation of a motor vehicle resulting in a fatality.


He is being held at Marble Valley Correctional Center in Rutland on $50,000 bail.

The police report, filed by Cpl. Gary Shuhart, said the conditions were dry and clear at the time of the accident. Police are saying speed may also have been a factor. Route 9, also known as the Molly Stark Trail, drops steeply from Woodford Mountain into the valley below. A sign at the top of the mountain warns drivers of the curving descent.

According to WTEN Channel 10 News in Albany, police said the truck tipped over when its 32-ton load of unsecured paper shifted in the trailer as Middlebusher attempted to negotiate the righthand curve onto the bridge. The truck was reportedly traveling 20 mph faster than it should have been.

Witnesses at the scene told the Banner that another motorist had aided Middlebusher getting out of his cab then went back into the cab and grabbed a fire extinguisher to prevent the second car from igniting.

Channel 10 News reported Thursday evening that Middlebusher had told police he was aware his load wasn't properly secured when he left Brattleboro.

The road was closed for several hours while the accident was cleared.





View Larger Map
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.
 
This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.
 
The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.
 
DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.
 
"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths. 
 
"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."
 
Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.
 
View Full Story

More Regional Stories