By VDC staff

A head-on crash on U.S. Route 7 in Leicester Sunday afternoon left one person dead and three others with serious injuries, according to the Vermont State Police.

Troopers from the New Haven Barracks responded to the crash near Cram Road at about 3:13 p.m. on October 26. Police said a southbound 2007 Pontiac G6 driven by Jeremy Nolette, 51, of Brandon, crossed the center line and struck a northbound 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer head-on.

The Trailblazer, driven by Thomas Gero, 52, of Monkton, was pushed over a guardrail and came to rest down an embankment before catching fire. Bystanders pulled the occupants from the burning vehicle and performed CPR on one of them, police said.

Gero’s passenger, Gillian Gero, 50, of Monkton, was pronounced dead at the scene. Gero was transported to the University of Vermont Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.

Nolette suffered serious, life-threatening injuries and was taken first to Rutland Regional Medical Center, then transferred to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. His passenger, Lisa Nolette, 60, of Brandon, was hospitalized at Rutland Regional with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Both vehicles were totaled. State police said speed is suspected to be a contributing factor in the crash.

The Vermont State Police Crash Reconstruction Team is investigating. Brandon Fire and Rescue, Middlebury Rescue, and two towing companies assisted at the scene.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact Trooper Nicole Twamley at the New Haven Barracks, (802) 388-4919.