Another car hits another building in Waitsfield Village

April 6, 2026  |  By Lisa Loomis  |  The Valley Reporter

No one was injured in the three-car crash that left a Subaru in a building on Main Street in Waitsfield on Tuesday. Photo by Lisa Loomis / The Valley Reporter

The driver will face charges of negligent operation and driving under the influence. Photo by Lisa Loomis / The Valley Reporter

WAITSFIELD – A Bristol man faces charges of driving under the influence and negligent operation after a three-car crash that left his vehicle embedded in Waitsfield Village Pottery in the Larrow House on last week.

No one was seriously injured in the crash, and potter Ulrike Tessmer was not in her shop at the time.

The three-car crash happened shortly before 5 p.m. on March 31, according to Vermont State Police Trooper Alyssa Nozka. It snarled traffic on Vermont Route 100 and the Bridge Street intersection as firefighters, EMS, and law enforcement arrived at the scene.

Nozka reported that the incident happened when Joseph Hagen, 47, was traveling south on Route 100 in a Subaru Legacy when he struck two vehicles that were also southbound. His car left the road, stopping in the first floor of the Larrow House building. Waitsfield Pottery is on the lower level, Michiah’s Barbershop is on the second level, and an apartment and real estate offices are on the third floor.

Before leaving the travel lane, Hagen’s Subaru hit a Toyota Corolla driven by Julian Fairchild, 20, Warren, and a Chevrolet Colorado driven by Eric Baruzzi, 50, Fayston. All drivers were wearing seatbelts, the police report noted.

Hagen’s car was totaled, and the Toyota and Chevy both received minor damage.

Nozka noted that while speaking with Hagan, troopers detected indicators of impairment. Hagan was taken to Central Vermont Medical Center for evaluation, where he was screened for DUI. Hagen was issued a citation to appear in Washington County Superior Court – Criminal Division on April 9.

The driver will face charges of negligent operation and driving under the influence. Photo by Lisa Loomis / The Valley Reporter

This incident is the second in recent months involving a vehicle colliding with a building along Waitsfield’s Main Street. 

In November, a northbound car took flight and ended up embedded in a building in the Bridge Street Marketplace, just south of the Main Street and Bridge Street intersection. That car ended up in the red building immediately north of Darrad Services, after shearing off the front porch of the Darrad building. 

Another unusual vehicle mishap in the same area took place on Saturday, March 28, when a car landed in the Mad River near the Bridge Street Marketplace parking lot. 

Vermont State Police issued a short report on that incident, which also did not result in any injuries. 

Troopers said they received a call at 5 a.m. on March 28, from 56-year-old Thomas Wiegel of Waitsfield, who said his 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee had been parked and fell out of gear, causing it to roll into the river. No one was in the vehicle at the time, police said.  

Waterbury Roundabout contributed to this report.