Snow, wind, ice and a defroster not working the way the driver hoped it would combined to send a Jeep Cherokee through a snowbank and, briefly, airborne. 

On February 6 at about 11 AM, State Police responded to a single-vehicle crash with injuries on Memorial Drive in Saint Johnsbury, VT. The investigation revealed that prior to the collision, 

Roscoe Gaudette, 51 of Lyndon was driving a 2017 Jeep Cherokee south on Memorial Drive at 35 MPH. His windshield fogged up while attempting to turn on the defroster, causing a temporary loss of visibility. In response, he attempted to pull over to the right side of the roadway, but oversteered and crashed into a snowbank. 

Police say the Jeep’s front grille and bumper hit a snowbank in a field to the right of the southbound lane. The vehicle then traveled through the snowbank, briefly became airborne, and landed on all four tires just past the point of impact. 

Gaudette’s attempt to pull over to the right side of the roadway was unsuccessful due to the slippery road conditions, which prevented the vehicle from slowing down sufficiently.

Gaudette suffered minor injuries. Passenger Jessica Gaudette was uninjured. Both were wearing seat belts.

Wright’s Towing was called to remove the vehicle from the scene.