Two-car Rt. 100 crash claims the life of a Waitsfield woman

January 25, 2026 | By Lisa Scagliotti 

A Waitsfield woman lost her life in a two-car crash on Vermont Route 100 in Waterbury Center on Friday night, according to Vermont State Police. 

A VTrans snowplow blocks access to Vermont Rt. 100 at Guptil Road Friday night as emergency responders worked at the crash scene to the north. Photo by Gordon Miller

The crash happened shortly before 6:30 p.m., near the intersection with Stowebury Road. State police issued an alert for motorists to use an alternate route as Route 100/Waterbury-Stowe Road was then closed to all traffic between Howard Avenue and Guptil Road as responders worked at the crash site. 

Troopers from the Berlin barracks, along with Waterbury Fire and Ambulance crews, responded. 

A report by Trooper Kevin Charney says that the investigation is still ongoing, but the preliminary inquiry found that a white 2009 Honda CR-V driven by Paula Breining, 61, of Waitsfield, was headed south when it crossed the center line and collided with a northbound blue 2020 Hyundai Tucson. 

Breining was seriously injured and was pronounced deceased at the scene, police said.

Both the driver and passenger in the Hyundai – Rohtash Kumar, 41, and Sita Devi, 43, both of Montpelier – had minor injuries and were taken to Central Vermont Medical Center to be evaluated, police said. 

All of the individuals involved were wearing seat belts; the weather was clear, and the road was snowy at the time, according to the report. Both vehicles sustained heavy front-end damage, police noted.

The road was reopened to through traffic around 10:30 p.m. 

The investigation into this crash is ongoing. Anyone with information that might help investigators may contact troopers in Berlin at 802-229-9191. Anonymous tips also may be shared via text message or using an online form; find details here.