Vermont State Police On7/1/2018at approximately 1:15 am, State Police received a report of a person attempting to flag drivers down on Interstate 91 at approximately mile marker 150. Upon State Police arrival, they located a single motor vehicle crash. The passenger was identified as Madeline Olsen; she was transported to NVRH with non life-threatening injuries by Lyndon Rescue. State Police further located the operator, Justin Darling, down a steep embankment, deceased.
Initial investigation revealed Darling was traveling northbound in the left lane when the vehicle left the roadway, struck several wire guardrails, and traveled down the embankment striking several trees. Darling and Olsen were both ejected from the vehicle. Olsen was only wearing the lap belt of the seat belt and Darling was not wearing a seatbelt. Speed, alcohol, and the weather all appear to be factors in the crash; the investigation is on-going.
STATE OF VERMONT
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
VERMONT STATE POLICE
PRESS RELEASE
Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash
CASE#: 18A403368
RANK/TROOPER FULL NAME: Trooper Sean Brennan
STATION: VSP-St. Johnsbury
CONTACT#: 802-748-3111
DATE/TIME:7/1/2018approximately 0100 hours
STREET: Interstate 91
TOWN: Sheffield
LANDMARK AND/OR CROSS STREETS:
INTERSTATE MILE MARKER: Mile Marker 150.4
WEATHER: Heavy Rainfall, Lightening storm
ROAD CONDITIONS: Wet, pooling water
VEHICLE #1
OPERATOR: Justin Darling
AGE: 24
SEAT BELT: No
CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Barton, VT
VEHICLE YEAR: 2007
VEHICLE MAKE: Chevrolet
VEHICLE MODEL: 2500
DAMAGE TO VEHICLE #1: total
INJURIES: fatal