Newport Center woman charged with assault, reckless driving after multiple crashes

NEWPORT — A Newport Center woman faces multiple charges after allegedly striking two vehicles repeatedly on Interstate 91 and U.S. Route 5 before fleeing the scenes.

Jana Leigh, 46, was arrested Sunday after police located her 2021 Chevrolet Malibu on Cross Road in Newport Center. She was charged with four counts of aggravated assault and grossly negligent operation, according to Vermont State Police.

The incidents began around 5:14 p.m. when Jennifer Ladd, 51, of Derby reported that a blue Chevrolet sedan had struck the back of her vehicle multiple times while traveling northbound on Interstate 91 near mile marker 161 in Orleans. Ladd was a passenger in a 2024 Toyota Tacoma driven by Jeremy Guyette, 48, also of Derby.

Shortly afterward, Kassidee Keefe, 31, of Newport Center contacted police reporting that a similar vehicle had repeatedly crashed into the rear of her 2014 Ford F-150 on U.S. Route 5 before leaving that scene as well. Christopher Marquis, 43, was a passenger in Keefe’s truck.

No injuries were reported in either incident. The Malibu sustained front bumper damage, while the Tacoma had rear bumper damage and the F-150 had damage to its rear hitch.

Leigh was processed at the Vermont State Police Derby Barracks and released with a citation to appear in Orleans County Superior Court.