16-year-old Brandon girl dies in car crash
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Rutland Herald Staff - Published: May 12, 2009
BRANDON – A car crash here has taken the life of a 16-year-old girl from Brandon. Sarah Leary was pronounced dead at Rutland Regional Medical Center Sunday, not long after her 2000 Subaru Legacy rolled off Union Street. Leary, who attended high school in Proctor, was thrown from the vehicle during the crash, which took place shortly after 3 p.m.
Family friend Emily Smalley, who lives at the Ella Dean Farm not far from the crash site, administered CPR to Leary until paramedics arrived. But Smalley said Monday that Leary's wounds were too great.
"She was already gone but I had to try," she said. "If it was my child, I would want someone to try."
The cause of the one-vehicle crash remains unclear, Brandon Police Chief Christopher Brickell said. Leary, who was driving with a 14-year-old girl in the passenger seat, showed no signs of alcohol or drug use, Brickell said, adding that speed didn't appear to be a factor either.
The 14-year-old, whom police didn't identify, was wearing her seat belt, was uninjured in the crash, Brickell said. Police are not sure whether Leary had her seat belt on.
The chief said an autopsy was performed on Leary on Monday but the results weren't available yet. Brickell said a full report would be issued on the accident once evidence from the scene and the autopsy had been analyzed. He also said police aren't considering filing any criminal charges in the accident.
Friends and loved ones left flowers and a little statue along the grassy roadside accident site Monday.
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