HARDWICK – On June 27, at approximately 11:16 a.m., Hardwick Police, Fire and Rescue Squads were dispatched to a two-car crash at the intersection of Route 16 and Belfry Road. Upon arrival, the occupants of the 2017 Kia Sportage were entrapped in the vehicle and required extrication. The operator of the Kia, Elaine Badger of Wolcott, and her passenger, Betty Tulip of White River Junction, were transported to Copley Hospital by Hardwick Rescue. The operator of a 2020 Ram 2500, Erik Boelens, was out of the vehicle and denied any injuries. The investigation showed Boelens was traveling north on Route 16, and Badger was traveling west on Belfry Road attempting to turn onto Route 16. Badger did not see Boelen’s truck approaching and pulled out in front of it. Boelens tried to avoid hitting the Kia by braking and steering to the left but could not avoid hitting the Kia. Both vehicles sustained major damage to the front of the vehicles.
On June 30, Betty Tulip died as a result of her injuries from the crash at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire. Elaine Badger died July 9, at UVM Medical Center, due to the injuries sustained from this crash.
On July 4, at 7:30 a.m., the Hardwick Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Route 16 in the town of East Hardwick for a motor vehicle violation. This traffic stop resulted in the vehicle being towed and the operator called Justin Bashaw of Walden, to pick them up. Bashaw arrived in his own vehicle, operating with a criminally suspended license. Bashaw was issued a citation and the other operator drove his vehicle from the scene. He was cited into the Caledonia Unit of the Superior Court of Vermont, Criminal Division, to be arraigned on the charge.
On July 6, Hardwick Police received a report of a stolen vehicle. The vehicle is a 1997 BMW Z3 convertible, dark blue in color, taken over the July 4 weekend. If anyone knows information on the whereabouts of the vehicle or who may have taken it, contact the Hardwick Police Department.
