No one hurt in I-89 morning car fire; recent Main Street arrest involves chopper
May 20, 2022 | By Waterbury Roundabout 
No one was hurt in a car fire on Interstate 89 in Bolton on Thursday that slowed morning traffic just north of the Waterbury exit. Photo courtesy Bolton Fire Department
No one was hurt in a car fire on Interstate 89 in Bolton on Thursday that slowed morning traffic just north of the Waterbury exit.
The incident happened around 6 a.m. near mile marker 71, according to the Bolton Fire Department, which responded and extinguished the fire.
Vermont State Police also responded and issued emergency alerts that one of the travel lanes was closed.
Officials believe there was just a driver in the small car that was engulfed in flames but that the driver fled the scene before any emergency crews arrived.
With the help of witnesses, Trooper Christopher Sweeney from the Williston barracks said police learned that the driver had fled. Brian Jagodziniski, 60, of Stowe, was later located several miles away in Waterbury and was found to have a criminally suspended driver’s license, police said.
Jagodziniski was issued a citation to appear in Chittenden County Superior Court on Aug. 6 to answer to the charge of Driving with a Criminally Suspended License.
Bolton Fire officials could not be reached for comment. Sweeney said that the car fire appears to have been mechanical in nature and there were no injuries.
Chopper assists with locating suspect in Waterbury
A U.S. Customs and Border Patrol helicopter circles over North Main Street on May 11. Photo by Gordon Miller
An arrest on North Main Street in Waterbury attracted attention last Wednesday, May 11, as it involved a motor vehicle stop with assistance from a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol helicopter that diverted while out on another mission.
Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles enforcement officers were involved with taking the driver into custody. Photo by Gordon Miller
Authorities cited Amanda Stuart, 31, of South Burlington, on multiple charges including aggravated operating without the owner's consent, negligent operation, attempting to elude police, and criminal driving while license suspended, police said.
She was released with a citation to appear in court in June in Burlington. Later that day, Barre City Police said they arrested her on charges of burglary and taking a car without permission. She then was lodged overnight.
Police in South Burlington, Williston, Essex, Barre and Colchester say she is a suspect in three other missing car cases last week.
~ Mike Donoghue, correspondent