STATE OF VERMONT
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
VERMONT STATE POLICE
NEWS RELEASE
MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH
CASE#:
26A5003732
RANK/TROOPER FULL NAME: Trooper Richard Berlandy
STATION:
Derby
CONTACT#: 802-334-8881
DATE/TIME: 07/04/2026 1131 hours
STREET: VT Route 58
TOWN: Irasburg
LANDMARK AND/OR CROSS STREETS: Houston Heights
WEATHER: Clear
ROAD CONDITIONS: Dry
VEHICLE #1
OPERATOR: Korban Rutherford
AGE: 24
SEAT BELT? N/A
CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Hanceville, Alabama
VEHICLE YEAR: 2021
VEHICLE MAKE: Yamaha
VEHICLE MODEL: YZ250X
DAMAGE TO VEHICLE #1: Minor Damage
INJURIES: Fatal
HOSPITAL: North Country Hospital
VEHICLE #2
OPERATOR: Cody Miller
AGE: 28
SEAT BELT? Yes
CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Irasburg, VT
VEHICLE YEAR: 2022
VEHICLE MAKE: Chevrolet
VEHICLE MODEL: Silverado HD
DAMAGE TO VEHICLE #1: No damage
INJURIES: No injuries
HOSPITAL: N/A
SUMMARY OF CRASH:
On the above date and time, the Vermont State Police,
Orleans Ambulance Service, and the Irasburg Fire Department responded to a
report of a motorcycle crash on VT Route 58 near the intersection of Houston
Heights in the Town of Irasburg, Vermont.
Upon arrival, responders determined that the operator of the
motorcycle, Korban Rutherford, 24, of Hanceville, Alabama, had been traveling
westbound on VT Route 58 when he swerved to the right, left the traveled
portion of the roadway, and struck a tree. Rutherford sustained serious bodily
injuries as a result of the crash and was transported to North Country
Hospital. Despite life-saving efforts, Rutherford later succumbed to his
injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital.
Interviews with witnesses at the scene indicated that
Rutherford appeared to swerve after perceiving Vehicle #2 entering VT Route 58
from Houston Heights. Interviews with the operator of Vehicle #2 and witnesses
further revealed that Vehicle #2 entered the eastbound lane of VT Route 58
while attempting to make a left turn onto the westbound lane. However, Vehicle
#2 came to a complete stop before entering the westbound lane of travel and did
not infringe into Rutherford’s lane of travel.
The investigation into this incident is ongoing. Anyone with
information about this incident is asked to contact the Vermont State Police’s
Derby Barracks at 802-334-8881
