FERRISBURGH — A crash involving an Amtrak passenger train and two vehicles disrupted traffic on US Route 7 near Monkton Road yesterday.
Preliminary investigations show that at around 10:51 a.m., a 2021 Volkswagen Golf, operated by Alexa Buskey, 46, of Ferrisburgh, was halted at a railroad grade crossing, adhering to the signaling.
A 2019 Kia Sedona driven by Nichole Rampone, 33, also of Ferrisburgh, approached the Volkswagen from behind. Apparently failing to notice the halted vehicle and flashing railroad signals in time, Rampone tried to dodge the Volkswagen. This maneuver resulted in her Sedona striking the rear of the Golf and subsequently colliding with the Amtrak train.
The train, which was moving at less than 30 mph, had minor contact damage but no injuries were reported among the 59 passengers and seven crew members on board.
Rampone’s Sedona, however, was totaled, and she was transported to Porter Medical Center with suspected minor injuries for evaluation. Buskey’s Golf sustained rear-end contact damage but she remained unharmed.
The incident led to the closure of US Route 7 for about 45 minutes.
Several agencies, including the Vergennes Police Department, DMV Police, Ferrisburgh Fire Department, and Vergennes Area Rescue Squad, provided assistance at the scene. Investigations continue.
