Passenger accused of shooting driver, triggering three car crash in Vermont

BENNINGTON, Vt. — A Bennington man is facing multiple felony charges after police say he shot another man inside an SUV before it crashed into several parked vehicles Saturday evening. According to the Bennington Police Department, officers responded around 5:06 p.m. Saturday, July 25, to the intersection of Park Street and Spring Street for a report of a multi-vehicle crash. Police said a 2024 Subaru Crosstrek traveling northbound on Park Street struck three parked vehicles, causing one of them to overturn. When officers arrived, they found three occupants inside the Subaru. As they began providing medical care to the 38-year-old driver, officers discovered he had suffered a gunshot wound. Investigators determined an altercation occurred inside the vehicle, during which the driver was shot before the crash. The driver was taken to Southwestern Vermont Medical Center before being transferred to Albany Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. Police said no additional information about his condition has been released. The two other occupants of the Subaru suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries. They were also taken to Southwestern Vermont Medical Center before being transferred to Albany Medical Center. Bennington Rescue, the Bennington Fire Department, Pownal Rescue and Arlington Rescue assisted at the scene. Police identified one of the occupants as 49-year-old Grifford Saupin of Bennington. Investigators said Saupin was detained at the scene and taken to Southwestern Vermont Medical Center before being transferred to Albany Medical Center. Investigators later obtained an arrest warrant charging Saupin with attempted murder, possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a violent crime, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, reckless endangerment and criminal threatening. The Albany Police Department is assisting Bennington police and will take Saupin into custody once he is released from medical care. Investigators also determined there were four people inside the Subaru at the time of the incident. Police said one occupant left the scene on foot before officers arrived and investigators are continuing efforts to locate and speak with that person. The investigation remains active.