Jericho Man Charged with Second-Degree Murder in Bolton Wrong-Way Crash

45-year-old Timothy Wooster accused of killing 21-year-old Hailey Westcot in December incident on I-89

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A 45-year-old man from Jericho, Vermont has been charged with second-degree murder, grossly negligent operation with death resulting, 12 counts of aggravated assault, and 12 counts of reckless endangerment in connection with a wrong-way crash on Interstate 89 in Bolton that killed a 21-year-old woman in December.

Why it matters

This tragic incident highlights the dangers of wrong-way driving and the devastating consequences it can have on innocent lives. The charges of second-degree murder indicate authorities believe Wooster's actions were reckless and showed a disregard for human life, raising questions about driver accountability and potential policy changes to prevent such crashes.

The details

According to state police, Wooster was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of I-89 for approximately 1.5 miles before colliding head-on with a vehicle driven by 21-year-old Hailey Westcot of Northfield, who was killed in the crash. Wooster's Toyota Tundra and Westcot's Kia Sportage were both totaled, and a third vehicle driven by a 50-year-old man from New Hampshire also sustained heavy damage, though he was uninjured.

  • The crash occurred at 5:22 p.m. on December 17, 2025.
  • Wooster is scheduled to be arraigned at 10:30 a.m. on March 12, 2026.

The players

Timothy Wooster

A 45-year-old man from Jericho, Vermont who has been charged with second-degree murder, grossly negligent operation with death resulting, 12 counts of aggravated assault, and 12 counts of reckless endangerment in connection with the wrong-way crash.

Hailey Westcot

A 21-year-old woman from Northfield, Vermont who was killed in the head-on collision with Wooster's vehicle.

Douglas Bailey

A 50-year-old man from Londonderry, New Hampshire who was driving a third vehicle that sustained heavy front-end damage in the crash but was uninjured.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on March 12, 2026 whether or not to allow Timothy Wooster to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This tragic incident underscores the need for stronger enforcement and deterrents against wrong-way driving, which can have catastrophic consequences for innocent victims. It also raises questions about driver accountability and whether policy changes are needed to better prevent such crashes from occurring in the future.