His Bull Caused a Crash that Killed a Woodbridge Man, Now He Faces Charges: Police

WOODBRIDGE, CT - A Rutland, VT, man is facing a charge of involuntary manslaughter in connection with a fatal car crash that his bull caused when it wandered off his property.

Jon Bellis, 62, of Woodbridge was driving west on Route 4 in Rutland on July 31, 2015, when his car stuck a large Scottish Highlander bull that had escaped from its pasture, according to Vermont state police. After striking the bull, Bellis' Subaru Crosstrek continued westbound, ran down a small grassy hill and collided with a tree.

Kathryn Barry, 61, also of Woodbridge, was a passenger in the car and suffered minor injuries.

The bull is owned by Craig Mosher, who was indicted by a grand jury in April, reports Fox61 News. He has pleaded not guilty.

Involuntary manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, and Vermont farmers are worried that the case could have a chilling effect on the state's farming industry.

Authorities reportedly have been called to Mosher's property multiple times about animals wandering off his property. And about 15 minutes before the fatal crash, a milk truck driver nearly hit the same bull, and went looking for Mosher to warn him that animal had gotten loose.

Mosher's attorney called incident a "horrible accident," writes Fox61.

Click here to read the full story on the Fox61 website.

Photo: A Scottish Highlander bull, like this one, is accused of causing a fatal crash in Rutland, VT, in 2015. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons