Authorities and emergency personnel responded to an accident on Route 15 in Hyde Park on Tuesday, January 17. The Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department received the call to respond to a multiple car accident in the area of Sterling View Road at roughly 11 a.m.
     Upon arriving at the scene, deputies found that there were two cars involved in the accident. The operator of the first vehicle, 37 year-old Heather Wilson of Fairfax, was traveling east on Route 15 when her pet distracted her, causing her to cross the center line and strike the second car, which was traveling west and being driven by 17 year-old Keith Martin, of Waterville.
     According to the LCSD, both vehicles suffered extensive damage in what was basically a head-on collision. However, both Wilson and Martin were examined at the scene by Emergency Medical Service (EMS) staff and released without being taken to the hospital. Investigators credited the airbags in each vehicle as well as the fact that both drivers were wearing their seatbelts as the reasons why both Martin and Wilson escaped the accident relatively unscathed.
     Along with the Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department and EMS personnel, the Hyde Park Fire Department also responded to the scene and assisted with traffic control, vehicle recovery, and cleaning up the debris on the roadway. Route 15 was closed for a total of roughly 45 minutes as a result of the accident and clean-up efforts. In their press release, the Sheriff’s Department stated that it is appreciative of the patience of the citizens and drivers with regard to the traffic delays related to this incident and others around the county.