CANAAN, Essex County, Vt., Oct. 14, 2026 — A pedestrian was struck by a box truck on Monday afternoon, October 12, on Vermont Route 114 in Canaan, according to the Essex County Sheriff's Department.
The sheriff's department said the crash happened around 1:15 p.m. near Wallace Pond, when a white box truck traveling west on Route 114 struck a man walking in the area. Authorities identified him as George "Buddy" Trask, 71, a New Hampshire Hall of Fame basketball coach.
Trask reportedly suffered what the sheriff's department described as a "polytrauma event." He was treated at the scene before being taken to Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital. His current condition has not been released.
The box truck did not remain at the scene, and investigators have not released a description of the driver. The Essex County Sheriff's Department and Vermont State Police are asking anyone with information, including Canaan or Norton residents with camera footage that may show a vehicle matching the description, to preserve that footage and contact law enforcement. The investigation is ongoing.
We wish those injured a full recovery.
Why Truck Blind Spots Make Pedestrian Crashes So Hard to Avoid
A box truck's cab sits high off the ground, and the body behind it blocks the driver's view out the back and along both sides. These "no-zones" can hide a pedestrian, a cyclist, or an entire vehicle from the driver's sightline, especially when someone is close to the front corners or directly behind the truck, where mirrors can't reach.
Drivers of box trucks and other large commercial vehicles also sit farther from the road's edge than car drivers do, which widens the blind spot on the passenger side. On rural highways like those common in northern Vermont, where shoulders are narrow and foot traffic is less expected, a driver scanning for cars may not be looking for someone walking along the road at all.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 528,177 large trucks were involved in police-reported traffic crashes in 2023. Many of these crashes involve limited visibility, turning movements, or a failure to detect someone or something in a blind spot before it's too late to react.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are a truck's blind spots and why do they matter?
Large trucks have blind spots along both sides, directly behind the trailer, and close to the front bumper. A pedestrian or smaller vehicle in one of these zones may be completely invisible to the driver, even when mirrors are checked.
What is an underride crash?
An underride crash happens when a smaller vehicle slides partly or fully beneath a truck's trailer during a collision, often because the trailer sits higher than a car's crash structure. It's a separate hazard from blind-spot incidents but is also tied to truck size and height.
What are common causes of large-truck accidents?
Recurring factors include blind spots, driver fatigue, wide turns, mechanical issues such as brake failure, and difficulty stopping quickly given a truck's weight and length.
How can drivers share the road with trucks safely?
Stay out of the areas directly beside, behind, and in front of a truck when possible, give trucks extra room to turn, and assume the driver cannot see you unless you can see their face in a mirror.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Crash in Canaan, Vermont
Anyone involved in or witnessing a pedestrian crash should call 911 immediately so emergency medical help can respond. Even if injuries seem minor at first, a medical evaluation is important, since some injuries from being struck by a vehicle aren't obvious right away.
If you saw the crash or have dashcam or security footage from the area, contacting local law enforcement can help investigators piece together what happened. Keeping a record of any medical visits, symptoms, and conversations with responding officers can also help if questions come up later about what occurred.
