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She had her three young children in the car
By Mike Donoghue
Vermont News First
MIDDLEBURY — A Vergennes woman is facing multiple charges, including driving while under the influence of alcohol with death resulting after her car collided with a stopped motorcycle on U.S. 7 in Ferrisburgh on Wednesday night, Vermont State Police said.
Faith Hobson, 30, who lives at a Main Street homeless shelter, pleaded not guilty in Vermont Superior Court in Middlebury on Thursday afternoon to the DUI/fatal charge.
Kyle Conner, 31, of Monkton was killed in the crash near the Village Cafe and Tavern in Ferrisburgh, officials said.
Hobson told police she had just left Burlington City Hall Park and was headed to the John Graham Homeless Shelter in Vergennes.
In court, Hobson also denied a second DUI-related charge of driving with an alcohol level above 0.08 percent and a single count of gross negligent operation filed by prosecutor Peter M. Bevere.
Hobson had a 0.19 percent alcohol level when tested by state police, court records show. That is more than twice the legal limit in Vermont (0.08) when an adult driver is presumed under the influence.
While the initial Vermont State Police press release never mentioned any passengers, court records note Hobson had her three young children, ages, 10, 3, and 2 years-old, and a male companion, Prince Diaz, 27, in her car when she crashed.
Hobson admitted she had smoked marijuana earlier in the day when interviewed by Vergennes Police Detective Jill Harter, one of the first officers at the scene. Hobson said she had been prescribed some medications, but had not been taking them, police said.
Hobson told police that between her living arrangements and errands, she did not have time to get high, court records noted.
Judge Alison Arms agreed to release Hobson on strict conditions, including she is prohibited from driving any vehicle and is blocked from buying, possessing or drinking alcoholic beverages. Hobson also must submit to alcohol testing upon request by police, the judge ordered.
Connor had stopped his southbound 2021 Triumph Tiger 850 Sport about 8:30 p.m. and planned to turn into the business when Hobson crashed into him from behind, state police said.
Trooper Branden Slaney said Connor was seriously injured and despite life-saving medical attention by first responders later died an hour later at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington.
Slaney said while speaking with Hobson at the scene, troopers detected indicators of impairment. Her eyes were bloodshot and watery, police said.
Police said Hobson insisted a couple of times she was not “inebriated” and that she had stopped drinking about 5 p.m.
Hobson said she had followed the Vermont Department of Liquor Control’s guidance that says to have no more than one shot of alcohol an hour, court records noted.
Hobson was screened for suspected driving under the influence of alcohol and was subsequently placed under arrest, Slaney said.
Hobson was transported to the Vergennes Police station for processing and later released with a citation ordering her to appear in Vermont Superior Court in Middlebury on Thursday afternoon to answer three criminal charges.
Connor’s motorcycle received “catastrophic” rear end damage from Hobson’s black 2012 Nissan Altima, Slaney wrote. Hobson was uninjured, but her car sustained extensive front end damage, police said.
The speed limit in the area is 40 miles per hour, and Hobson claimed she was going 40-43 mph and used cruise control, police said.
Slaney said based on the post-crash analysis, her speed appeared to be higher, police said. He noted that after impact the motorcycle continued further than expected for being hit at her estimated speed.
One witness told state police Hobson “came barreling right behind him” as Connor was stopped and trying to turn left into the business. “I don’t believe she even saw him,” police said she reported.
VSP Patrol Sgt. Jon Prack checked the motorcycle after the crash and determined the left turn signal was still activated and operational. The veteran officer also reported the rear nighttime running lights on the motorcycle were brightly illuminated.
The weather was clear and the pavement dry.
Also responding were Vergennes Police, the Vergennes and Ferrisburgh Fire Departments, and Vergennes Area Rescue Squad.
U.S. 7 was shut down in both directions for several hours between Greenbush Road and Stage Road.
Slaney said the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone who may have witnessed the crash or with information is urged to contact the Vermont State Police at (802) 388-4919.
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Categories: Public Safety
If she is not originally from here, she needs to leave with all her kids. If not, rot, she killed someone for nothing, disgusting.
That being said, how many more Americans need to be killed by the unwanted here before people wake up?
If she claims that Burlington city hall park was her last stop, I would like to assume that she was screened for other debilitating substances as well? Generally, you can metabolize a “drink” an hour, but to use that info to stay within legal limits you have to know how to count and tell time, so that is a big assumption these days. What a shame…just out for as nice evening ride on your Triumph and then here comes trouble.
I’ve been living abroad, serving my country, since January and it hurts to read this. Why? Here in Germany and most other countries in Europe, one gets caught in DUI ends up in jail on the spot. They will also lose their driving privileges for a minimum of 5 years, have to re-take driver training which costs thousands here, get a psych evaluation and of course pay all court costs and associated fees. It is also a felony here. If you are dumb enough to get caught again, your privilege to drive is permanently revoked and you will spend much more time in jail, especially with a death involved. Perhaps stricter traffic laws, more driver training and accountability are why there are way fewer traffic deaths here than in America.
This woman had her kids in the car while twice the legal limit and had been smoking pot. I’m very disappointed in Judge Arms for releasing her. She needs to be in a cell and her kids in foster care. We need to start treating DUI like the serious felony that it is like the rest of the world does and stop treating it as a cash cow for the court system. Pray I never become governor!
John, you are absolutely right on!!! Just the other day Mayor Stank said we need stricter gun laws, NO, we need stricter dui laws! How many times do you read about someone being pulled over for dui just to find out this is there 2nd, 3rd or even 10th offense. Why are they still on the road?
Burlington City Park is infested with drug dealers and users, in the back yard of the mayors office. This is Burlington importing homeless people, 90% of whom are homeless because of drug use, and spreading it through out Vermont. This is how the subversionist work, take over a city, a couple cities and then suddenly the entire state is a sheet hole, all by design, then they take over by a democracy, get rid of the constitution and replace it with?..
Bernie and the like are always talking about a revolution, they never say where they are headed, why is that?
The sad part is this woman is being used, being lied too and is following the wrong path. Vermont government has no personal interest in her well being, they are only making money off of her plight. If they can keep her on drugs, homeless, jobless, in child protected services, everybody can make thousands of dollars off of running the programs.
Vermont is making millions, if not billions of dollars in keeping people poor, without hope, on drugs and involved with crimes and no punishment. The whole system is designed to create more problems so it can make more money. This is why nothing changes, too many people making money off keeping people poor and destitute, Vermonts biggest business.
She had plenty of time to get high — .19 is wicked drunk. Yes US laws on DUI are way too lax, even before stupid lib VT prosecutors let them go free. (Has she been charged for endangering minors?)
My heart aches for the family. No one in the social justice cult seems to care about actual crime victims when they treat loser felons as victims. And yet again we see an arrest of a person of color, which Stephanie Seguino alleges proves our police are racist.
I was acquainted with Kyle. He was a close friend of my husband’s friend. Kyle put my campaign sign in his yard in 2024. I cannot believe the judge released this woman. She killed a young man. This is devastating.
Wait, am I missing something? She lives in a homeless shelter, yet she owns a car?
That was my first thought. Free social benefits from the state must pay well.