Vt. man charged in fatal car crash

Timothy Dowd of Hinesburg was ordered held without bail yesterday after appearing in court where he pleaded not guilty to a charge of negligent operation of a motor vehicle with death resulting and attempting to elude.

Police identified the victim as Kathryn Borneman, 43, of Burlington.

The crash occurred about 9 p.m. Sunday at the corner adjacent to City Hall Park in downtown Burlington.

Court documents indicate an officer had stopped the car Dowd, 52, was driving after he did not stop for a stop sign. As the officer approached, the documents say, Dowd sped off and led the officer on a chase through downtown Burlington. Other officers then joined the pursuit.

Dowd eventually was headed east on Main Street at about 60 miles per hour when his vehicle collided with another car at the corner of Main and St. Paul streets, next to City Hall Park, according to the charging documents.

Burlington Police Chief Michael Schirling said officers involved in the chase acted properly.

“It’s tough on officers when they’re trying to ensure the public safety, and that fell short here, to say the least,’’ Schirling said.

Based on a cursory review of the incident, it appears the officers followed Police Department policy, Schirling said.

According to court documents, Dowd told police he had had two glasses of red wine at his home earlier Sunday and then rode as a passenger with a friend headed to downtown Winooski. The friend went into a home and after she did not return, he took the car, intending to go home but got lost, not knowing his way around downtown Burlington, the documents say.

About four hours after the crash, Dowd had a blood alcohol content of 0.071 percent, just under Vermont’s legal limit for driving of 0.08, according to police.

If convicted, Dowd could be sentenced to 15 years in prison.