SHELDON — A 53-year-old man from Enosburg was killed during a crash in Sheldon yesterday.
The crash took place on Shawville Road at around 8:30 p.m.
Christopher J. Ryea was traveling east on Shawville Road when he was struck by an oncoming westbound truck, driven by Jason M. Combs, 45, of Enosburg, that had crossed the center line.
Ryea was pronounced dead at the scene.
The collision occurred less than 45 seconds after Trooper Andrew Underwood had attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the truck, which was traveling south on Vermont Route 78 with its left rear taillight out.
Trooper Underwood activated his blue lights and siren, at which point Combs turned onto Shawville Road and accelerated rapidly away from the cruiser.
Trooper Underwood followed the pickup truck while Combs quickly opened significant distance between himself and the trooper.
The truck failed to negotiate a righthand curve, crossed into the oncoming lane, and struck Ryea’s motorcycle head-on.
Combs was arrested on charges of grossly careless and negligent operation with death resulting, DUI No. 4, attempting to elude, and violating an ignition interlock restriction.
He was ordered jailed without bail at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans pending arraignment today in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in St. Albans.
