Vermont State Police cruiser damaged in slippery conditions

ROYALTON — A Vermont State Trooper who was investigating a car that had slid off the Interstate 89 exit ramp had her police cruiser struck by another vehicle traveling down the ramp at Exit 3, according to Vermont State Police.

The incident, which occurred during snowy conditions on Tuesday morning, temporarily closed off the exit ramp while the involved vehicles were moved to the side of the road, police said.

There were no reported injuries but police said both involved vehicles suffered severe damage.

VSP said that Trooper Mengbei Wang of the Royalton barracks was responding to a motor vehicle that had slid off the ramp from the southbound lane and talking with the driver when another vehicle “came around the corner and collided into (her) unoccupied cruiser” that was parked at the side of the ramp, according to the news release.

The operator of vehicle, a 2016 Subaru Forester, was assessed at the scene by responders and released, police said. The Subaru incurred extensive front-end damage and had to be towed.

The police cruiser, a 2021 Ford Explorer, received heavy rear-end damage but nonetheless was able to be driven from the scene, police said.

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