Justice · I-89 tanker crashBrookfield I-89 crash: Driver seriously injured, fire tanker totaledAired October 29, 2026 at 12:43 PM UTCWritten October 29, 2026 at 12:48 PM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:07A car struck a tanker shielding responders, seriously injuring its driver and0:10totaling the truck.0:11Brookfield depends on trucks to bring water to fires, and now its fire department0:15needs another tanker.0:17Investigators still have to determine why the driver hit a parked emergency vehicle0:20with its lights flashing.0:21The collision happened on northbound Interstate80 9 , in Brookfield, Vermont on0:25October27,2026 .0:28Police logged the first emergency response at12 30 8 p.m.0:31were dealing with a crash involving a passenger car and a box truck.0:35Brookfield's tanker one closed the right travel lane so firefighters and rescue0:38crews could work.0:39Traffic was passing through one remaining lane.0:41The tanker was parked with its emergency lights activated when a northbound Toyota0:45Prius struck the rear.0:46The protective truck became the scene of a second emergency.0:49The fire department described a high-speed impact that ruptured the water tank and0:53left the sedan lodged underneath the truck.0:55Crews switched to rescuing the trap driver.0:57They freed the driver and requested DART, the helicopter medical transport service.1:07The Prius was a20204 model driven by a28-year old Burlington resident.1:13Police withheld the driver's name and said the driver was wearing a seatbelt.1:16The injuries were serious, and the car was a total loss.1:19A helicopter took the driver for emergency treatment.1:22The driver went to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.1:24Firefighters described the driver as conscious and coherent when leaving the scene.1:28Tee here has been no further update on the driver's condition.1:30Two dogs were also inside the Prius, and one suffered serious injuries.1:34Both dogs went to Country Animal Hospital.1:36The tanker was a2012 Freightliner M2, operated by a52-year old Brookfield1:42resident who was also wearing a seatbelt.1:44The operator reported no injuries.1:46The fire chief said the operator saw the car approaching in a mirror and braced for1:49the impact.1:50No Brookfield firefighters or other responders were reported injured.1:54East Randolph Fire, Randolph Center Fire, and Randolph Village Fire helped secure1:58the scene and close the highway, alongside Randolph Police.2:01Their crews supported responders whose own truck had just been struck.2:04Losing that truck also creates a problem for future fire calls.2:07Fire Chief Robert Coniff says Brookfield doesn't have city water to draw on for2:11firefighting.2:12His department has to transport its water and use portable bags.2:15With Tanker One totaled, the department is searching for another truck to support2:19that work.2:20Police and firefighters recorded different mile markers for the incident.2:23That leaves the precise highway location unresolved, even though both describe the2:27collision in Brookfield.2:28The difference also means either marker used alone would give a false impression of2:33certainty about where the tanker was positioned.2:35Police list northbound mile marker thirty, seven point two.2:38The fire department places its traffic, control and lane, protection operation at2:42northbound mile marker thirty, eight point six.2:45Nobody has explained the difference.2:46The established location is northbound I-809 in Brookfield, where crews were2:51protecting the earlier crash scene.2:53The driver's fianc says motorists didn't get enough warning of the closed lane.2:57He believes more warning could have prevented the collision.2:59The tanker had flashing emergency lights, but investigators haven't determined3:02whether the overall warning arrangement was adequate.3:05The weather was clear, and the road was dry.3:07Police haven't said why the driver failed to avoid the tanker.3:10Trooper Abigail Sakura of the Berlin Barracks is handling the investigation.3:13The October twenty-eight police release lists a civil violation complaint and court3:17action as pending without identifying an issued charge.3:20Brookfield is also trying to arrange a temporary replacement.3:24The department was exploring a tanker loan from neighboring Williamstown, but3:27Williamstown still had to approve it.3:29The loan hadn't been confirmed.3:30Brookfield was waiting to hear from its insurance company while searching for a3:34permanent replacement.3:35Getting a new tanker could take about one year.3:37That's a possible wait, and the department doesn't have a fixed delivery date.3:40A temporary loan would help bridge that gap, but Brookfield was still seeking3:44approval to borrow Williamstown's truck.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSS
