Barton, VT – A Sutton man is facing felony charges after allegedly fleeing a traffic stop in Barton earlier this month before crashing his vehicle, according to the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department.
According to Sheriff Jennifer Harlow, Deputy Cota attempted to pull over a vehicle for speeding on Oct. 6 when the driver, identified as 53-year-old Juan Rivera, allegedly showed signs of intoxication. Deputies said Rivera allegedly fled the stop at dangerous speeds, prompting them to discontinue the pursuit for safety reasons.
According to the department, deputies then began driving toward a possible address associated with the alleged operator. While en route, they discovered the vehicle crashed off the roadway. Rivera was found injured at the scene and was transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for treatment.
Sheriff Harlow said Rivera was not immediately taken into custody because of the severity of his injuries. Weeks later, after his release from the hospital, deputies located him and issued a citation to appear in court.
Rivera now faces multiple charges, including felony eluding, grossly negligent operation, excessive speed, and DUI. According to court documents, he is scheduled to appear in Vermont Superior Court’s Orleans Criminal Division on Jan. 20, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. Officials note that court dates are subject to change and should be confirmed with the criminal court clerk.
Residents near the crash site said they saw emergency vehicles in the area that evening, though no additional injuries were reported.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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