A Vermont police officer is facing a drunken driving charge after causing a head-on crash on Sunday.
Leanne Werner, 30, of St. Albans, an off-duty Burlington police officer, was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and grossly negligent operation of a motor vehicle. She is scheduled to appear in court on July 20.
Police in St. Albans said they responded to a two-car, head-on motor vehicle crash with entrapment around 5:16 p.m. Sunday on Lower Newton Road in the vicinity of Brigham Road.
Initial investigation shows that Werner was headed west on Lower Newton Road in a 2012 Ford Escape when her vehicle crossed the double yellow line, causing a head-on crash with a 2009 Kia Sedona driven by Omer Martin, 74, of St. Albans.
Martin and his wife, Jane Martin, 73, a passenger in the vehicle, were both extricated from their vehicle and taken to Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans with serious injuries. Omer Martin was later transferred to the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, where he remains in serious, but stable condition. An update on his wife's condition was not available. Werner was not seriously hurt.
Burlington Police said Werner, who has been with the department since 2011, has been placed on administrative leave. The department will conduct its own internal investigation once St. Albans and state police complete their investigation.
Vermont State Police are assisting St. Albans Police with the accident reconstruction. Both vehicles were transported to the state police barracks in St. Albans pending further investigation.
