LOCAL

Man dies after crashing into 10 parked cars

Elizabeth Murray
Free Press Staff Writer
Lamoille County

An elderly man who crashed into 10 parked cars at McMahon Chevrolet in Morristown earlier this month has died, town police Cpl. Garth Christensen said.

Leopold LeRiche died Dec. 17 at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington of injuries sustained in the crash, Christensen said. The crash occurred Dec. 3. LeRiche was the only driver involved.

Police had said that LeRiche drove his truck through the intersection of Center Road across Vermont 15 before hitting 10 parked cars in the car dealership's parking lot. LeRiche was initially transported to Copley Hospital in Morrisville, but was eventually transferred to the UVM Medical Center in Burlington where he remained until his death, Christensen said.

News of the death was not released by police until Sunday when the Burlington Free Press inquired about the man's death. The investigating officer who would normally issue a news release was on vacation when LeRiche passed away, Christensen said.

An obituary for LeRiche ran in Sunday's Burlington Free Press announcing the man's passing.

"A man of many interests and passions, Leo lived a life rich in adventures and experiences," the obituary stated, adding that LeRiche owned a Christmas Tree farm and managed multiple properties after retiring as a local businessman.

An autopsy was performed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner after LeRiche's death, and police are awaiting the results to help in the crash investigation, Christensen said. An official cause of the crash has not yet been determined, but potential medical issues have not been ruled out, he added. The crash is not considered suspicious, Christensen said.

Contact Elizabeth Murray at 651-4835 or emurray@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/LizMurraySMC.