An Essex Junction woman has been cited to appear in court May 23 for driving under the influence in a November 17, 2022 accident in Sharon, resulting in the death of her 11-year-old son. 

Dawn Baustert, 47, was cited through her attorney on charges of driving under the influence with death resulting, driving under the influence with serious bodily injury resulting, grossly negligent operation with death resulting, grossly negligent operation with serious bodily injury resulting, and reckless endangerment, state police said May 1.

11-year-old Silas Baustert was killed, and three other occupants were injured, two of them seriously, state police say. Three other occupants – including an unnamed juvenile, and Timothy Baustert, 57 – were injured in the crash, two of them seriously. 

Gravel bike racer killed in weekend crash – For the second time since last August, a Vermont gravel bike race has claimed the life of a competitor.

Saturday, April 29, at about 9:20 AM, police were notified of a collision between a pick-up truck and bicyclist near the intersection of Brook Road and Carter Road in the Town of Burke. 

The bicyclist, Richard Wanstall, 54, of Marblehead MA, was traveling south on Brook Road, while participating in the Rasputitsa gravel bicycle race, when it entered into the northbound side of the roadway. A 2007 Dodge truck operated by Alex Goss, 27, of East Haven was traveling north on Brook Road. 

The bicyclist collided with the front of the truck while on the northbound side of the roadway. The bicyclist and truck came to rest in the northbound shoulder, near the Brook Road and Carter Road intersection. The bicyclist was transported from the scene by ambulance and later pronounced dead at an area hospital. At this time, neither speed nor impairment are believed to be contributing factors in the collision.

Last August, a world class competitive racer from Kenya died during a gravel bike race on Mt. Ascutney.

Lawnmower crashes into car – A riding lawnmower’s brake failed and crashed into a car at a Richford intersection shortly after noon Sunday, sending the 69-year-old operator to the hospital.

State Police say Karl Barnes of Richford was driving north north down steep Green Avenue on a riding lawn mower. As he approached the intersection of Province Street he reportedly lost his brakes and the lawn mower accelerated to an unknown speed. 

The mower crashed into a Volvo driven by Jennifer Leach, 37, of Enosburg. Barnes was transported to NWMC for non- life threatening injuries sustained in the crash. Leach and her three passengers were not injured.