BURLINGTON, Vt. -
28-year-old Philip Henry faces a charge of driving under the influence.
But until he's arraigned at the end of this month, Henry, who already has one DUI conviction will still be allowed behind the wheel.
On Saturday night, police say Henry was speeding when he drove through the Shelburne Road and I-189 intersection when he barely dodged the traffic light pole, struck the electrical box that controls those signals and slammed into a parked car.
Miraculously, no one was killed. "I think he is lucky to be walking away with his life," Andi Higbee of the Burlington Police Department said.
But police say Henry's actions affected thousands of people driving through Burlington's busiest intersection. As of Monday morning, traffic was moving again, but on Sunday, it looked more like a parking lot because it was the lights at that intersection that were hit by the alleged drunk driver.
After Henry was treated and released at Fletcher Allen, he was cited for driving under the influence. But until he has his day in court, he's still allowed to drive, even though Henry was convicted of driving drunk in 2009. "That is standard for us depending on the circumstances," Higbee said.
Because no one was hurt in the crash, Vermont law allows Henry to keep his license until he faces a judge at the end of the month. "Just with what information we have available and from the accident, it could have been deadly," Higbee added.
If he's convicted of a second DUI offense, in addition to fines and potential jail time, Henry would also have to pay for the new traffic lights.
