PITTSFORD, Vt.—A group of community members, as well as friends and family, gathered in the early evening on February 4th, 2026 at the intersection of Routes 3 and 7 to leave flowers memorializing Benjamin Adams, 21, of Pittsford, at the site where he died following a single-vehicle accident discovered on the morning before.
A wreath with ribbons decorated with flannel patterns and baseballs adorns one of the lamp posts of the recently completed, controversial Bridge #108. Alongside it various other bouquets and a lone, autographed baseball paid homage to the deceased.
Since the accident, townspeople have been seen visiting the site at various points in the day, spending a few moments there, and leaving pained at the devastating, and potentially avoidable, tragedy.
According to police reports, Mr. Adams was reported missing to Vermont State Police having been last seen Monday, February 2nd around 10:30 pm. He was believed to be traveling northbound on Route 3 toward Furnace Road. However, around 11:00 am the next morning, a community member reported that a car was overturned in Furnace Brook, which was later identified as Adams’s vehicle and he was pronounced deceased at the scene.
An investigation into the accident is ongoing, and Vermont State Police was at the scene on Thursday, February 5, to document the area with a drone. According to VSP’s Rutland Barracks Commander, the incident is being investigated as a non-suspicious vehicle crash with no indication of foul-play. However, autopsy results may take weeks or even months to be returned, after which VSP expects it can publish a complete crash report.
SAFETY OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION IN QUESTION
Questions are mounting regarding what could have been done to prevent the accident.
While not all details are known about the circumstances surrounding Adams’ passing, safety concerns about the intersection have been voiced from the community since planning phases. Most recently, residents have been filing new complaints since late November, when Bridge #108 reopened following a major reconstruction project, the latest phase of which was completed by Rutland-based Belden Construction LLC.
Selectboard meeting minutes from November 19, 2025 reveal concerns expressed regarding vehicle navigability at the intersection. According to Selectboard Chair Alicia Malay, and confirmed by minutes, beginning December 4, 2025, the Selectboard and Town Manager, Ann Reed, have been documenting safety concerns reported by residents, as work concluded for the winter, and emailing them to contacts at Belden Construction and the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans). These concerns included curbing, traffic lines, and, indeed, the guardrail on the south side of the bridge along Rt. 3 where Adams’ car fell into Furnace Brook.
On Jan. 7, 2026, Carolyn Cota from VTrans was present at the Pittsford Selectboard meeting to address concerns, but in response to Selectman Thomas Hooker’s specific concern regarding the guardrail along Rt. 3 being too short, Ms. Cota stated that the railing length is correct according to plan additions following negotiations, and that a flashing light is planned to be installed in the future to advise vehicles to slow down.
However, with construction halted for the winter, no changes or additions were made, leaving these safety concerns unanswered until the project reopens in the spring. Sometime in the interim, an unidentified resident plowed a wall of snow, in an attempt at a natural barrier to prevent such a tragedy.
The Pittsford Selectboard opened its meeting on February 4 with a brief moment of silence in honor of Mr. Adams. “What we feared came true,” stated Chair Malay in a phone call about the incident.
In a statement from VTrans, Chief Engineer Jeremy Reed stated, “The Vermont Agency of Transportation is reviewing the police report and working with the engineer of record to assess what happened and identify possible options. We will continue to work with the Town of Pittsford to improve safety.”
According to Town Manager Ann Reed, the Town of Pittsford does not have jurisdiction or ownership rights over the roads, intersection, or bridge project. This means that the town cannot act directly to address the concerns that arose related to street lines, sightlines, or guardrails. Even parts of recent improvements that the town is allowed to manage, such as rapid flashing speed limit signs, water/sewer improvements under Route 7, and sidewalks have required special permits.
“The Town of Pittsford and its employees are grateful for the citizens and the way they have rallied around the Adams family and close friends in this time. A heartfelt thank you and condolences to all of the fire fighters, first responders, and those that made up the search party for Ben,” Ms. Reed said in a statement.
A candlelight vigil for Mr. Adams held on February 6th at the Pittsford Fire Department was well-attended. Despite the bitter cold of this current winter, the local community came together to support one another through the loss. Discussions on the Pittsford community group and a separate Facebook group established specifically in Mr. Adams’ memory centered around remembering him as a generous and loyal friend, an enjoyer of all the wildlife and outdoors activities Vermonters love, and included dozens of warm wishes of condolences for his loved ones. A bank account supporting Adams’ family through expenses associated with his accident has been established at Bar Harbor Bank, to which donors can make contributions either by visiting the branch in Pittsford or via Venmo. To donate on Venmo, follow this link: https://www.venmo.com/u/Adams_Adventures, or visit the page for user handle @Adams_Adventures.
Photos by Chris Szczerba.