Peacham man dies in UTV crash amid heavy rains

PEACHAM – Vermont State Police are investigating the death of a 33-year-old man during severe weather and flash flooding in Peacham late Wednesday night.

Dylan Kempton of Peacham was found dead around midnight in South Peacham Brook, about 1/8 mile downstream from where his overturned all-terrain vehicle (UTV) was discovered in the water.

Police responded to the area near Governor Mattocks Road and County Road around 10:35 p.m. on Wednesday after a vehicle had fallen into the creek. The driver of the vehicle was rescued uninjured.

While investigating the scene, rescue workers noticed Kempton’s overturned UTV in the water. A section of the road had collapsed due to the flooding.

Investigators found that Kempton had driven his UTV to Peacham Corners earlier that evening. On his return trip, a sewer break caused water to rush across the road and swept away his vehicle.

The incident occurred during heavy rain that caused the South Peacham Brook to rise extremely high.

Kempton’s body was recovered early Thursday morning and will be taken to the Chief Medical Examiner’s office in Burlington for an autopsy.

Police say the investigation is still ongoing.