COLCHESTER, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont authorities say a deadly car chase in Colchester Friday night that killed two people and hospitalized three others was drug-related.
East Lake Shore Drive in Colchester — for many, it’s a scenic two-lane road with views of Lake Champlain. But on Friday night it was the scene of a deadly crash.
Diane Graziano lives across the street from where the crime scene tape was just a few days ago. “Very scary for this area if you ask me,” she said.
Authorities say it started after employees of a rental car company tried to get their car back at Perkins Pier in Burlington. That’s when officers say the people inside the car threatened the employees and then fled in a different rental car.
Police say the suspects drove erratically through the city, reaching speeds of over 115 miles per hour on Route 127, the Burlington Beltline. Not long after, police say the car crashed off of East Lakeshore Drive.
Vermont State Police say Damanuel McLeod, 19, of Brooklyn and Tywon Parker, 28, of the Bronx died in the wreck.
Tayami Barnes, 31, of the Bronx and Ron Thomas, 21, of Brooklyn, pleaded not guilty in court Monday to various drug charges. Burlington Police say over 800 grams of cocaine were found at the scene after the crash. An 18 year old who we are not identifying will face charges in family court. Per Vermont law, 18-year-olds cannot be charged in criminal court for drug crimes.
Graziano and others say their Colchester neighborhood is normally a safe place to be. “Things like this happen all over the place and you just never know when its going to hit in your neighborhood,” she said.
Both Barnes and Thomas were released on conditions.