Milford Toddler Nearly Impaled By Rebar After Vermont Crash

COLCHESTER, VT — It was a matter of just a few inches for a Milford, Conn. family as a piece of rebar fell off of a truck and onto a car driven by a Milford family and it came within inches of impaling a 1-year-old child, according to authorities.

Photos released by Vermont State Police show how close a call it was for the toddler. Miraculously, no one was injured.

State Police said at 4:38 p.m. on Dec. 12, troopers responded to several collisions on Interstate 89N in Colchester. The operator of a 2018 Chevrolet truck or vehicle 1 was identified as Christopher Larose, of Swanton, VT. Vehicle 2 was identified as a 2015 Subaru driven by Brenton Elliott, 38, of Milford, CT.

"Preliminary investigation showed vehicle 1 was following vehicle 2 in the northbound passing lane of Interstate 89, near mile marker 92, in the Town of Colchester. Both vehicles had to brake due to traffic congestion on the interstate. As Vehicle 1 came to a stop, unsecured rebar on the roof of Vehicle 1 became dislodged and penetrated the rear of Vehicle 2.

"One piece of rebar penetrated the rear passenger's seat, before penetrating and coming to rest in an, occupied, rear facing child safety seat. This child safety seat was located behind the front passenger's seat and was occupied by a one year old child. The child was uninjured but transported to the University of Vermont Medical Center as a precaution," Vermont State Police said.

SD Ireland, who owns the 2018 Chevrolet truck, was issued a Vermont Civil Violation Complaint for securing loads, which is a violation. The statute states "A person shall not operate a motor vehicle nor draw a trailer, or semi-trailer on a highway unless the motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer is so constructed and loaded that it will create no hazard to other users of the highway."

NBC Connecticut Anchor and Milford native, Heidi Voight shared the news on her social media page and wrote, "Three inches. That's how close this piece of rebar came to a 1-year-old baby's head after flying off the top of a construction truck and into the car of a family from Milford, CT on a Vermont highway last night.

"A pick up truck slammed on its brakes, causing one of the heavy metal bars it was carrying to fly forward like a spear. It smashed through the car in front of it, tearing straight through the car seat head and landing inside right next to that baby, who was not hurt. I cannot even imagine how terrified that father must have been in the seconds before he turned around and realized a true miracle occurred," Voight said.

Photos via Vermont State Police