Vernon Cops Respond To 2nd Tunnel Incident This Month

VERNON, CT — Vernon police have now responded to two vehicle-related incidents in the town's historic tunnel this month.

The latest took place Aug. 12. Police released details of the crash Wednesday. The Tunnel is a one-lane stone structure on Tunnel Road over which a trail system now passes that dates back to the 1800s.

At 12:21 a.m. on Aug. 12, police received a call about a red pickup truck running into the tunnel and located the vehicle on nearby Willow Stream Drive, a report indicates. The driver, identified as 31-year-old Corey Burnham, of Vernon, sped away from the scene, and was swerving along Tunnel Road and ran through a stop sign, according to a report.

Police abandoned the chase, but tracked down Burnham at his home, a report indicates. Truck parts left at the tunnel matched those missing from the truck, according to a report. He was charged with reckless driving, engaging police in a pursuit, disobeying the signal of an officer and interfering with police, according to a report.

About a week earlier, car was set on fire inside the tunnel, police said.

Emergency responders converged on the scene at 2:43 a.m. The burned vehicle is believed to be an Audi. It was unoccupied and there were no injuries, police said.

Read more about the fire here.