Another person has died as a result of a motorcycle accident on Vermont highways, bringing the total to eight this year.
Linda Sauca, of Hudson NY was a passenger on a motorcycle driven by her husband Tonnie Sauca, 69, when both were thrown from the 2013 Harley Davidson at about 2 pm on September 3. He was seriously injured. She later died of her injuries.
State police say Sauca was traveling south on US Route 7 in Pownal, with Lisa Decker of Springfield, MA driving in front of him. She had slowed down to turn left into a driveway. When she made the left hand turn, Sauca attempted to pass her on the left, colliding with her car in the northbound lane.
Both Saucas were ejected from the motorcycle and sustained serious injuries. Both were airlifted to Albany Medical Center. Decker and her passengers were not injured in the crash.
Linda Sauca’s death is at least Vermont’s eighth motorycle fatality in 2022. On August 3, Brian Mercer (Derby) was the seventh motorcyclist to die in a crash on Vermont roads this year. In 2021, there were 13 motorcyclist fatalities; in 2020, there were 10; in 2019 & ’18, there were 5 each year; in 2017, there were 11.
During the first six months of the year, Vermont highway fatalities (all vehicles) went from 28 in 2021 to 40 in 2022 – a 43% increase, and fourth highest in the country according to a Quotewizard study. 2022 traffic fatalities are also up 27% in New Hampshire and 52% in Maine, the national leader.