A construction zone flagger who was struck by an impaired driver Friday morning has died, Vermont State Police say.
James Alger, an employee of the LPD Traffic Control Services, was directing traffic in a railroad crossing construction zone in the area of Ethan Allen Highway and Route 17 when he was struck around 8:13 a.m. Police say Jennifer Bergevin was traveling north, driving 30 mph, which is the posted speed limit of the construction zone, when she struck Alger with her car.
First responders stabilized Alger at the scene before he was taken in an ambulance to Porter Hospital. Due to his injuries, Alger was then taken to the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington by DART helicopter. State police say Alger died there overnight.
Drug recognition experts interviewed Bergevin as part of the investigation and determined she was operating her vehicle while impaired. She is facing charges of driving while under the influence of drugs and gross negligent operation of a motor vehicle with serious bodily injury resulting. It’s unclear if she will face any new charges since Alger has since died.
The investigation is ongoing.
Bergevin is expected to make her first court appearance in October. It’s unclear if she has an attorney currently.
