By Guy Page

Three times this month, police have stopped allegedly impaired drivers driving without front tires.

In one case, the missing tire was caused by a police deflation device, deployed to stop a high-speed chase. But the other two were solely the drivers’ responsibility, police say. 

Shortly after midnight on Sunday, August 20, State Police say they saw a vehicle driven by Ethan Francks, 29, of Marlborough Connecticut driving north on I-89 in Richmond and missing its front tire. During the motor vehicle stop, police observed several signs of impairment. 

Francks was arrested for suspicion of DUI (first offense), transported to the state police barracks for processing, and cited to appear in court. 

On August 9, a similar event took place at 4:20 pm on Route 4 in Rutland, when state police stopped Jared Parks, 41, of Fair Haven for operating a vehicle without a front tire. Signs of impairment were observed. Parks was administered Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) roadside and was placed into custody for suspicion of DUI. He was transported to the Castleton Police Department barracks for processing and released on a citation to appear in Rutland County Superior Court.

The case of Alan Frasier, 40, of Rutland was much different. He was arrested after a high-speed chase on Interstate 91 Northbound on August 19, facing charges including operating a stolen vehicle, attempting to elude, excessive speed, gross negligent operation, and DUI Drug.

Sheriff Ryan Palmer and Deputy Hunter Buchanan of Windsor County Sheriff’s Department were patrolling as part of the Governors Highway Safety Labor Day DUI Campaign when they were requested to assist Woodstock PD in apprehending a stolen vehicle.

The vehicle was believed to be traveling to Woodstock.

At about 11 pm, Sheriff Palmer spotted the vehicle on Route 4 and attempted a traffic stop. Frasier allegedly tried to evade, leading to a chase onto Interstates 89 and 91, driving erratically and disregarding officers’ commands to stop.

St. Johnsbury Police Department successfully deployed tire deflation devices at mile marker 128, bringing the chase to an end at mile marker 132.

Frasier reportedly drove for some time on the rim after the vehicle’s passenger side tires were deflated and the front tire disintegrated.

After being taken into custody, Frasier was taken to St. Johnsbury Police Department, where he was screened by Drug Recognition Expert, Officer Robert Gerrish of the Lyndonville Police Department.

He was charged with DUI Drug among other offenses and held on $5,000 and $1,000 cash or surety bail at the North East Correctional Complex pending arraignment Monday, August 21.

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