Workers examine the wreckage of two milk tankers that crashed on Interstate 89 in Montpelier, VT. Photo credit: Burlington Free Press

The truck accident happened as 59 year old David Dike of Fletcher, Vermont was driving south on I-89, driving a milk truck for McDermott’s Inc. of Enosburg, VT. The road conditions were potentially dangerous with patches of ice, and the temperature was almost freezing. Rain was falling when Dike suddenly lost control of his milk tanker truck and jack-knifed across both of the southbound lanes of I-89 in the area between exits 8 and 9 . ..

A car containing a Waterbury couple was following behind Dike’s milk tanker truck and the driver, John Hall, 66, hit the brakes in an attempt to avoid crashing into the jack-knifed truck. Another tractor trailer that was behind the car was unable to stop and plowed into the car and the first milk tanker truck.
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The second truck was also a milk tanker truck, owned by Vaillancourt Transport of Enosburg, and driven by 43 year old Christopher Trivento of Fairfield, VT. The cabs of both milk trucks burst into flames upon impact.

Vermont State Police and local emergency teams responded to the truck accident scene. The truck driver on the second milk tanker, Mr. Trivento, suffered fatal injuries in the fiery truck collision and was pronounced dead at the scene.

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The passenger in the car, 62 year old Linda Hall, was treated at the accident scene and then transported to a local hospital where she later died.

The car driver and the first truck driver reportedly sustained minor injuries in the truck accident and both were treated and released.

Crews were brought in to drain the milk out of the two tanker trucks and to clear the disabled vehicles off the highway.

Vermont State Police closed both directions of traffic on Interstate 89 between Berlin and Middlesex while workers cleared the debris and authorities conducted an investigation. Both lanes of the highway were closed for nearly three hours.

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The northbound lanes of I-89 opened first, around 6:30 a.m., in time for the morning commuter traffic. The southbound lanes were closed the whole day as workers continued to clear debris and removed the two milk tanker trucks.

Authorities with the Transportation Agency came to the truck accident scene and inspected the guardrails and highway surface to determine the extent of the damage, and whether the highway was safe for travel. The interstate was completely opened shortly after 5:00 p.m. Monday evening.

The investigation of the truck accident is ongoing, and no charges have been made at this time.

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