Driver dies after crash with plow

A Springfield man died Thursday from injuries he received in a collision with a town highway truck Tuesday morning.

www.rutlandherald.com       www.eagletimes.com

Driver dies after crash with plow Rutland Herald | February 10, 2017 SPRINGFIELD — A Springfield man died Thursday from injuries he received in a collision with a town highway truck Tuesday morning. Police Chief Douglas Johnston said the department received word that George Spafford, 81, had succumbed to his injuries. Johnston said Spafford lived on Pleasant Valley Road in Springfield. The chief said Spafford had run into the back of a town of Springfield plow truck which was clearing the lower intersection of Chester Road (Route 11) and Cutler Road. He said the highway truck, which was operated by Juston Smith, 35, was either stopped or traveling very slowly at the time. “He just plowed into the back of the plow truck,” the chief said, adding that two witnesses to the accident had come forward since Tuesday to describe what they saw. He said Smith had backed the plow out onto Chester Road to make a final sweep of the intersection. “There was no reason for him not to see him,” the chief said of Spafford. Spafford suffered multiple broken bones in the accident, as well as a head injury, and had to be extricated from his vehicle before he was taken to Springfield Hospital and eventually transferred to Dartmouth- Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. Spafford was driving a 2010 Chevy HHR, a sport utility vehicle, while Smith was operating a 2015 International dump truck. Anyone who may have seen the crash should contact Sgt. Gregory Molgano at 885-2113. 2017-02-09 / Front Page Elderly man in serious condition after crash By ALLAN STEIN allans@eagletimes.com SPRINGFIELD — Police said an elderly man was seriously injured when his car collided with the rear end of a municipal dump truck in Springfield Tuesday morning. George Spafford, 81, was taken to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon with injuries that reportedly included two broken legs, a broken arm, and head injuries, Police Chief Douglas Johnston said. The chief said Spafford was last reported to be in a “serious to critical condition” at the hospital. However, that information could not be confirmed with hospital officials. “That is not a name on the list of patients for whom we are authorized to release information,” said Michael Barwell, media relations manager. Police said the accident occurred at 10:41 a.m. as Spafford was driving a 2010 Chevrolet HHR behind a 2015 International dump truck owned by the town in the area of Chester and Cutler roads. Spafford’s car plowed into the rear end of the slow-moving dump truck, forcing the vehicle’s drive shaft into the transmission. The driver of the dump truck, Justin Smith, 35, of Springfield, was not injured, police said. There were no passengers in either vehicle, police said. Spafford was transported to Springfield Hospital with serious injuries and was later transferred to Dartmouth where he remains hospitalized, police said. The crash is still under investigation and charges do not appear likely, the chief said. Johnston said the computer in Spafford’s vehicle will be removed and examined, which could determine the cause of the accident. Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact Springfield Police Sgt. Gregory Molgano at 802-885-2113. http://www.eagletimes.com/sites/www.eagletimes.com/files/images/2017-02-09/DSC_0431.JPG