SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT — Police in South Burlington say a pedestrian was killed Tuesday night after being struck by a vehicle on Shelburne Road near Queen City Park Road, and the driver has since been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.
The victim was identified as Todd Ward, 54, who was described by police as transient. He was pronounced dead at the scene after officers responded to the crash around 8 p.m. South Burlington Police Chief William Breault said investigators are still working to determine exactly what happened in the moments before the collision.
Police said the road remained closed late Tuesday night as crews and investigators worked the scene. Northbound traffic was being rerouted through the nearby Hannaford parking lot while the response continued.
Police say Ward was in the roadway when he was hit
Investigators said their preliminary findings show Ward was either lying down or crouched in the southbound lane for reasons that remain unknown when he was struck by a Honda Accord.
That finding is central to the crash inquiry, because it means officers are still trying to piece together Ward’s position, his movements before impact, and whether anything affected his judgment or awareness. Police said they will continue to examine the level of impairment of both Ward and Southworth as part of the case.
Authorities have not released any additional detail about why Ward was in the roadway or what led up to the crash. The reconstruction work is continuing as investigators try to establish a fuller timeline.
Driver arrested after further investigation
Police arrested Ryan Southworth, 33, of South Burlington, following further investigation into the collision. He was taken in on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to police.
Officers said Southworth was driving the Honda Accord that struck Ward. As of the latest update, a formal charge had not yet been filed.
The arrest came after the initial emergency response and additional review by investigators. Police have not said whether any blood alcohol testing, other screening, or additional evidence had been completed before the arrest decision.
Crash scene shut down Shelburne Road traffic late Tuesday
The collision caused major disruption on one of the area’s busy routes. Police said Shelburne Road was closed late into the night while the investigation unfolded and emergency responders remained on scene.
Northbound traffic was diverted through the Hannaford parking lot, a temporary rerouting that helped keep vehicles moving around the blocked roadway. The closure was still in place at 11:45 p.m., according to police.
Because the crash happened after dark and involved a pedestrian in the roadway, investigators continued working with limited immediate answers. The roadway response included scene control, traffic handling, and a detailed look at where the impact occurred.
Crash reconstruction team helping with the investigation
South Burlington police said they are working with a crash reconstruction team to determine how the fatal collision unfolded. That kind of follow-up typically helps investigators measure distances, review vehicle paths, and compare physical evidence with witness accounts.
Chief Breault said officers arrived after receiving a call around 8 p.m., and the scene remained active as the investigation progressed. Police have not said how many people witnessed the crash or whether any additional vehicles were involved.
The reconstruction effort is expected to help clarify the sequence of events, including the Honda Accord’s path and Ward’s position in the lane before the impact. For now, police say the cause remains under review.
Second fatal Route 7 crash in Vermont this week
The Shelburne Road death came just days after another deadly crash on Route 7 in Vermont. Police said a Vermont woman was killed and two other people were seriously injured in a crash in New Haven on Monday night.
Together, the two collisions have turned attention to a dangerous stretch of roadway during a week when police have already been handling multiple severe cases. Officials have not said whether the incidents are connected.
For South Burlington investigators, the immediate priority remains explaining how Ward ended up in the southbound lane and whether impairment played a role for either man. Until that work is complete, police say the facts of the crash remain under active investigation.
