On Aug. 28 at 9:33 a.m. Vermont State Police responded to a report of a car that had crashed in the median and was on fire on I-91, at mile marker 49N, in Weathersfield, Vt.
After the initial investigation, police reported that Alexander Romanow, age 79 from Brick, N.J., had been traveling north in a 2006 Chevrolet Tahoe with his wife, Jane Romanow, age 75. The Tahoe veered into the median and struck several trees and then caught fire. Alexander was trapped in the driver’s seat and could not get out. Jane suffered a broken femur but was able to get out of the vehicle, according to police.
Passersby attempted to extricate Alexander but the fire was too large and they could not get him out. Alexander was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Jane was transported by Golden Cross Ambulance to Valley Regional Hospital in Claremont, N.H., and later transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.
The investigation is ongoing but it is believed that the cause of the crash was due to the operator falling asleep.
Agencies responding to the scene included Weathersfield Police, West Weathersfield Fire, Ascutney Fire, Thetford fire, and the VT Agency of Transportation.
