A moose attempting to cross I-91 in St. Johnsbury early Monday morning was struck by two vehicles.

The two collisions were at least the 24th and 25th between Vermont motorists and moose this year. The Northeast Kingdom is particularly noted for its dangerous moose crossings, including I-91 at Sheffield Heights, several miles north of Monday’s collision. Last July, a Moose crossing I-91 at Sheffield Heights also resulted in a two-vehicle accident.

19 Vermont motorists have died in moose collisions since 1985. 

At about 3 AM, state troopers were dispatched to a report of a single motor vehicle crash involving a moose near Exit 22 on I-91 South. While enroute, Troopers were notified of a secondary crash caused by the animal in the roadway. 

Todd Rivers (51) of Sheffield, Vermont was traveling South on I-91 in a Kenworth tractor-trailer when a moose entered into the roadway and was struck by the tractor trailer. Rivers continued straight along I-91 before coming to a position of controlled rest prior to Exit 22.

The moose remained on the interstate in the right lane of travel. (State police did mention the condition of the moose.) 

Several minutes after the initial collision, Ryan Devaney (39) of Andover, MA, driving a Ford Escape, was traveling south on I-91 in the right lane. As Devaney approached the moose, he veered in an attempt to avoid striking the animal, but was unsuccessful. His vehicle flipped onto its side and slid along the roadway before coming to a position of uncontrolled rest in the right lane of travel. 

It was later determined River’s vehicle sustained extensive frontend damage and was subsequently towed from the scene. Devaney’s vehicle was deemed totaled and towed from the scene. The State Police were assisted on scene by St. Johnsbury Fire Department and the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.