On May 21, 2015 at 8:18 p.m. multiple agencies including the Burlington Police Department, Winooski Police Department and Winooski Fire Department responded to the Winooski Bridge (Colchester Avenue, Burlington, Vermont) for a report of a single vehicle crash. The vehicle was a dark blue Ford Explorer.
The operator and sole occupant of the vehicle was identified as Feisel Abdirahman (31) of Winooski, Vermont. Abdirahman was transported to the UVM Medical Center for examination for apparent minor injuries sustained during the crash. The cause of this crash is still under investigation.
The crash caused extensive damage to the railing on the east side of the Winooski Bridge. Burlington Public Works officials responded to the scene to address the damaged.
Abdirahman was issued a citation to appear in Vermont Superior Court (Criminal Division) on May 26, 2015 at 8:30 a.m. to answer to the charge of Grossly Negligent Operation.
This incident remains under investigation and other criminal charges may be forthcoming.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Officer Short at (802) 540-2341.
Title 23 VSA 1091 (b) Grossly Negligent Operation states:
(1) A person who operates a motor vehicle on a public highway in a grossly negligent manner shall be guilty of grossly negligent operation.
(2) The standard for a conviction for grossly negligent operation in violation of this subsection shall be gross negligence, examining whether the person engaged in conduct which involved a gross deviation from the care that a reasonable person would have exercised in that situation.
(3) A person who violates this subsection shall be imprisoned not more than two years or fined not more than $5,000.00, or both. If the person has previously been convicted of a violation of this section, the person shall be imprisoned not more than four years or fined not more than $10,000.00, or both. If serious bodily injury as defined in 13 V.S.A. ยง 1021 or death of any person other than the operator results, the person shall be imprisoned for not more than 15 years or fined not more than $15,000.00, or both.
