Family, friends, and members of the Burlington community are mourning the heartbreaking and unexpected loss of 62-year-old Owen Rich, who tragically passed away Tuesday night following a fatal pedestrian crash on College Parkway in Colchester, leaving loved ones devastated by the sudden and painful loss.
According to the Colchester Police Department, the incident occurred just after 11 p.m. near the west entrance to St. Michael’s College. Authorities say a vehicle was traveling eastbound through a single-lane construction zone along College Parkway when it struck Rich as he was crossing the roadway.
Emergency responders arrived to find bystanders already attempting life-saving efforts in a desperate effort to save him. He was quickly transported to the University of Vermont Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead, leaving loved ones devastated by the sudden and painful loss.
News of his passing has left a deep void among family, friends, and all who knew him, as they remember him not only for the life he lived but for the memories, kindness, and presence he shared with those around him. What should have been a quiet evening ended in unimaginable tragedy, turning an ordinary roadway into the scene of heartbreak.
As investigators continue to review the circumstances surrounding the crash, the community now turns its focus toward grieving a man whose life ended far too soon. Friends and loved ones are leaning on one another for strength as they try to process the shock and sorrow of his passing.
Owen Rich’s death serves as a painful reminder of how quickly life can change in a single moment. He will be remembered with love, respect, and deep sadness by all whose lives he touched.
