A 23-year-old Vergennes man was killed early Sunday morning in a head-on crash on Ethan Allen Highway in Charlotte, according to Vermont State Police.

Police said David Santiago Quimbay Gonzalez was driving a 2009 Kia Rio southbound on Route 7 at about 5:14 a.m. when his vehicle crossed the center line into the northbound lane and struck a northbound 2025 Freightliner Cascadia tractor-trailer head-on.

Quimbay Gonzalez, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington.

The operator of the tractor-trailer, Joseph Wesly, 39, of Milton, was wearing a seat belt and was evaluated at the scene.

Police said he did not report any injuries.

Both vehicles sustained disabling damage, with the Kia described as totaled.

The crash occurred near 3825 Ethan Allen Highway under clear weather and dry road conditions.

Vermont State Police were assisted by DMV Enforcement & Safety, Charlotte Fire and Rescue, Shelburne Fire and Rescue, Vergennes Rescue, and Ferrisburgh Fire Department.

A mailbox, a driveway, and a fourth DUI

A routine Sunday afternoon errand went sideways on Route 22A in Addison when a Middlebury-area man’s attempt to back into a driveway ended with a crumpled mailbox — and his fourth drunk driving arrest.

Troopers responded around 2:30 p.m. on Sunday to find Esteban Gutierrez, 37, of Shoreham behind the wheel of a 2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee that had clipped the mailbox while reversing. The crash itself was minor. What wasn’t minor was what came next.

Speaking with Gutierrez, troopers detected signs of impairment. He was screened on the spot, arrested, and transported to the New Haven Barracks — where the paperwork carried a charge that stood out: DUI number four.

Gutierrez was cited and released, with a court date set for June 1st at Addison County Superior Court, Criminal Division. No injuries were reported.

The weather was clear. The road was dry. The mailbox never had a chance.