According to police reports, a May 8 hit-and-run incident in Pownal resulted in serious injuries to a pedestrian and led to charges against two drivers. At approximately 6:40 a.m., Nelsin Martin, 21, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and Seneca Bolte, 22, of Bennington, Vermont, were allegedly racing on U.S. Route 7 when Martin’s vehicle struck 37-year-old Adrienne Formel of Pownal, who was on the shoulder of the road.
Police say Martin has been charged with grossly negligent operation resulting in serious bodily injury, while Bolte faces a similar charge. Following the collision, both drivers reportedly fled the scene, continuing south into Massachusetts. Formel was treated for life-threatening injuries and has since been released from the hospital.
The case has been submitted to the Bennington County State’s Attorney’s Office, which authorized the citations for both drivers. Martin and Bolte made their initial court appearances in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Bennington. Charges against them remain allegations, and further legal proceedings will determine the outcome. Court dates and charges may evolve as the case progresses.
Source: Vermont State Police
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About this report AI-assisted
Source: Vermont State Police ↗
How this was written: This story was drafted with AI assistance from public-record sources and published under VTScout's editorial standards. Spot something wrong? Request a correction.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Charges and court dates are subject to change. Reporting is based on information from law enforcement and public records, and will be updated as more details become available.
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