Man pleads not guilty to murder in crash that killed 5 teens
BURLINGTON, Vt. — A man who drove the wrong way on an interstate before crashing into a car, killing five teenagers, pleaded not guilty on Friday to five counts of murder as he recovers in a hospital from his injuries in last week’s wreck.
Steven Bourgoin was wheeled into a conference room at the University of Vermont Medical Center by a state trooper and a health care worker. His eyes were closed, and he made no comments during the proceeding. His lawyer entered the pleas for him.
The judge ordered a competency hearing and agreed with the prosecutor’s request that Bourgoin, of Williston, be held without bail. If convicted, Bourgoin, who’s 36 years old, would face 20 years to life in prison on each murder count.
Police say Bourgoin, while driving the wrong way last Saturday night on Interstate 89, hit the teens’ car and then stole a police cruiser. They say he then turned around and sped the wrong way again on the interstate back toward the crash, hitting at least seven other vehicles.