Road rage gone wrong

ST-JOHNSBURY, VT – I can’t believe it, there are conflicting reports on this one, but this is surely an accident.

Working in the transport industry, I try to keep up with industry news and pass this onto my drivers and the owner of the company I work for; new rules, what the DOT is presently looking out for, etc… however this one is something I hope my company, my drivers or myself will never be faced with – road rage.

According to media reports, last Wednesday, October 31, the driver of a tractor trailer unit ran over and fatally injured a woman who was trying to stop him from leaving a parking lot in St. Johnsbury, VT.

Vermont State Police reports say that Laurie Bragdon, 45, died at hospital after she was allegedly run over by a truck driven by Delbert Degree, 41. The investigation is ongoing at this time.

Sarah Bragdon, 22, of Guildhall, Vt., who is reported to be the victim’s daughter, said that her mother confronted Degree in St. Johnsbury; after he almost sideswiped their car about 20 miles back up the road. Sarah was at the wheel of the car at the time. She said that Degree used profanity with her mother, and that while she went to get help from a police officer her mother stood in the parking lot, in front of Degree’s truck, in order to hold him there until police arrived on the scene. An apparent witness to this horrible event told police that Degree ran over Bragdon, dragging her under the truck and crushing her.

According to Karl R. Johnson of Karl R. Johnson Trucking of Lyndonville, VT., Degree joined the company in February of 2004 and has over 10 years experience operating a commercial motor vehicle.

Strange how Karl R. Johnson Trucking’s philosophy is: "Treat others as you would want to be treated".

What is clear is that the two had exchanged words in the parking lot, according to the daughter; so obviously, the mother did not run out in front of a moving truck, she was trying to hold him there until police arrived. And playing devil’s advocate on this one, being in the industry, investigators will have to measure height of the engine compartment on the truck and see if in any way there was a blind spot, and that the driver’s vision was obstructed. It is quite possible that Degree never saw her in front of the truck – that’s why school busses are now equipped with the arm to keep them away from the front of the bus and in the driver’s line of vision.

Also, why did she not just call the company Degree drives for, and file a complaint like most motorist do instead of chasing the guy down the road for 20 miles.

This terrible incident took place in the parking lot of Fairbanks Scales.

Karen Eryou