Passenger Airlifted to Albany After Vermont Crash

The passenger in Thursday's accident, Jordan Belliveau, 20, died of his injuries later in the day at Albany Medical Center.

WHITINGHAM, Vt. — A single-vehicle accident seriously injured a passenger early Thursday morning on Tunnel Street, a mile north of Bosley Hill Road.

It took more than an hour for the Readsboro Fire Department to extricate the passenger of a 2007 Dodge Durango that crashed into a tree at about 2 a.m. The passenger's identity was being withheld pending notification of family.

North Adams (Mass.) Ambulance Service also responded to the scene.

The driver was identified as Patrick Belliveau, 24, of Gardner, Mass. Belliveau had fled the scene, according to Vermont State Police, and was located a short time later about 4 miles away from the accident. Upon taken into custody, he was screened for alcohol and drug impairment and his blood alcohol level was determined to be .089 percent, above the limit of .08.

The passenger was air lifted by medical helicopter from the scene to Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center and is listed in critical condition. The individual suffered multiple compound fractures, internal injuries, head injuries.

Belliveau, who is charged with gross negligent operation (serious bodily injury) and leaving the scene of a crash with serious bodily injury, was treated for a fractured arm at Southwest Vermont Medical Center in Bennington. Belliveau may also be charged with driving under the influence pending the results of evidentiary tests.

The Durango was considered totaled with front end, undercarriage, passenger side damage.

Tunnel Street was closed to traffic for approximately three hours while the crash was investigated. North Adams

 Anyone with information related to this crash should contact the Vermont State Police at 802-442-5421.