A tragic car accident on Willoughby Lake Road today led to the death of 73-year-old Suzanne Leblanc from Westmore.

Responding to an automated airbag deployment alert at around noon, Vermont State Police Derby Troopers, the Crash Reconstruction Team, members of the Orleans Fire Department, and the Orleans Ambulance Service arrived at the scene.

They discovered Leblanc’s vehicle, a 2020 Lincoln Aviator, had collided head-on with a tree.

Despite efforts to save her, Leblanc was pronounced deceased at the scene. She was the only person in the vehicle and was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. The vehicle sustained significant front-end damage.

The circumstances leading up to the vehicle leaving the road and crashing into the tree are still under investigation. Vermont State Police are asking anyone with information that could aid the investigation to call 802-334-8881.

The crash necessitated the closure of the road for about four hours as emergency crews worked at the site. Assistance was also provided by Wright’s Towing and Recovery. – State police report published by Newport Dispatch