The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2025 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
(Cite as: 5 V.S.A. § 3454)
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§ 3454. Investigation of accidents; hearing; determination; publicity
The Board shall inquire into the cause of every accident on a railroad resulting in
loss of life and, in its judgment, into any accident, collision, or derailment of
trains not so resulting. When, in its judgment, a public investigation is necessary
in the interest of public safety, it shall fix a time and place of holding the same
and shall summon the person operating the railroad, the parties known to have been
injured in the accident, and, if known, a representative or friend of an individual
killed in the accident, to appear and give evidence regarding the cause of the accident.
The Board shall also notify the State’s Attorney of the county in which the accident
occurred, who shall investigate the cause of the accident, produce witnesses who can
give evidence in regard to the same, and attend and represent the State at the hearing.
All parties summoned, and other persons interested, may appear and be made parties
thereto, may produce witnesses or other evidence, and may be represented by counsel.
On notice from the Board, the person operating the railroad shall produce all railroad
employees who can give pertinent evidence in regard to the cause of the accident,
free of expense to the State. The Board shall make public its determination in regard
to the cause of the accident so investigated and cause a permanent record of its determination
to be made. (Amended 1959, No. 329 (Adj. Sess.), § 39(b), eff. March 1, 1961; 2017, No. 132 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2021, No. 105 (Adj. Sess.), § 23, eff. July 1, 2022.)