Woodbury, VT (June 15, 2026) – Two young children lost their lives following a head-on roadway collision along Vermont Route 14 near Hattie Bell Road in Woodbury on Saturday, June 13.
According to state police, the two-vehicle crash was reported at approximately 9:30 a.m. and involved a Toyota Corolla and a Ford F-250. Investigators said Jonathan Ross, 38, of Danville, was driving southbound with two child passengers when the Corolla failed to negotiate a curve, crossed the center line, and entered the northbound lane, where it struck the pickup truck.
A 2-year-old girl and an 8-year-old girl riding in the Corolla were pronounced dead at the scene. Police stated that one child was secured in a car seat while the other was wearing a seat belt. Ross was seriously injured and taken to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
The driver of the Ford, Harry Dailey, 60, of Woodbury, received minor injuries and was taken to the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington. His passenger, Thomas Dailey, 29, also of Woodbury, was hospitalized with serious injuries. Ages and names connecting the children to Ross were not included in the initial report on the accident. Still, investigators continue to examine the factors that led to the roadway tragedy.
Our heartfelt sympathies are with the families and loved ones mourning this devastating loss.
What Can Investigators Learn From a Head-On Highway Collision?
Head-on crashes are among the most severe types of roadway collisions because the force from both vehicles combines at the moment of contact. Investigators review vehicle positions, tire marks, roadway geometry, weather conditions, and witness statements to determine how a vehicle entered the opposing lane of travel.
Seat belt use and child restraint systems are also commonly reviewed after serious crashes involving children. These safety devices can provide valuable information about occupant protection and may help explain injury outcomes. Medical findings may later contribute additional insight into the sequence of injuries sustained during a collision.
Road design can also become a factor in understanding what happened. Curves, elevation changes, pavement conditions, and visibility are frequently examined when determining whether roadway characteristics contributed to a vehicle leaving its intended lane. Data from vehicles, when available, may also help reconstruct speed, braking activity, and steering inputs before contact occurred.
