By Guy Page
A crash early Tuesday morning on I-89 in Milton resulted from the latest in a growing number of wrong-way drivers in Vermont.
More than four years ago, the number of wrong-way drivers had grown so numerous that State Police issued a statement and held a press event urging more caution by driving. A quick perusal of the results of entering ‘wrong way driver’ into the VDC search engine shows that in the last several months serious accidents and deaths have resulted from wrong way driving.
It is notable that most of the recent wrong-way driving episodes reported by police occurred at night or late evening. Online sources say that the combination of darkness and impairment often are contributing factors.
Tuesday morning’s crash occurred when an apparently impaired wrong-way driver collided with a Vermont State Police cruiser. No injuries were reported.
Vermont State Police in Williston said they received multiple reports at about 1:36 a.m. Jan. 6, 2026, of a vehicle traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of I-89 in Williston. Callers reported the vehicle continued in the wrong direction from exits 13 through 16, at times narrowly avoiding oncoming traffic.
Trooper Jae Farnum-Boylan, 28, was traveling southbound near Exit 17 in Milton in a fully marked Vermont State Police cruiser with emergency lights and siren activated when the wrong-way vehicle approached. Police said the vehicle continued straight toward the cruiser and, while traveling at a slow speed, struck the front driver’s side of the police vehicle.
The operator of the wrong-way vehicle was identified as Robert Anson, 61, of Mechanicsville, Virginia. Anson was driving a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado and was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. Trooper Farnum-Boylan, who was also wearing a seat belt, was operating a 2021 Ford Explorer Vermont State Police cruiser.
Both vehicles sustained damage to the front driver’s side. No injuries were reported. As a precaution, Anson was transported to the University of Vermont Medical Center by Colchester Rescue. Police said Anson displayed signs of impairment while in custody.
Anson was taken into custody at the scene and later cited to appear at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 19, in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Burlington to answer charges of driving under the influence and gross negligent operation.
Traffic on I-89 was affected during the response, but no further crashes were reported.
Other recent wrong-way driving incidents reported by police include:
- Woman, 21, dies in crash caused by wrong-way driver – December, 2025
- Video: Brattleboro ski jumper sign destroyed by wrong-way driver – October, 2025
- Wrong way driver on I-89 for 20 miles – July, 2025
View other wrong-way driving incidents in recent years by clicking here. According to online sources, drivers may drive the wrong way on the freeway due to confusion, inattention, or impairment, often related to alcohol or drug consumption. Many wrong-way incidents occur at night or on weekends, when visibility is lower and drivers may be under the influence.