The Latest: Accused driver facing domestic assault charge

WILLISTON, Vt. – The Latest on the wrong-way crash that killed five high school students in Vermont (all times local):

12 p.m.

The man accused of driving the wrong way on a Vermont interstate, crashing into a car and killing five high school students is facing a domestic assault charge.

According to a police affidavit, in May, 36-year-old Steven Bourgoin hit his girlfriend in the head, and threatened to throw her down the stairs. Police say when she tried to leave with their 2-year-old child, Bourgoin got into the vehicle, drove them around and threatened to kill them.

The woman told police that a similar incident happened two years ago in Massachusetts, where the couple previously lived.

A public defender representing Bourgoin did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

Bourgoin was facing a status conference on a possible jury draw on Nov. 4, and a possible jury draw on Nov. 7.

WCAX-TV first reported Bourgoin's domestic assault charge.

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11:15 a.m.

The employer of a man accused of driving the wrong way on a Vermont interstate, crashing into car and killing five high school students says it is as shocked and saddened as everyone in the area.

Lake Champlain Chocolates wouldn't comment specifically about Steven Bourgoin, who worked as a warehouse associate. State police say after hitting the students' car, Bourgoin then stole a police cruiser and crashed into seven more cars. He's hospitalized in critical condition.

Allyson Myers, Lake Champlain Chocolate's director of sales and marketing says the company's thoughts and prayers are with everyone, including the victims and families, and that everyone has been affected by the "heart wrenching loss."

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10:45 a.m.

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin has ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of five high school students who died when their car was hit by a wrong-way driver over the weekend.

The Vermont students died at the scene of the crash at an interstate on Saturday in Williston.

Shumlin said in a statement Monday that the loss "in such a senseless tragedy is heartbreaking."

The flags will be lowered in the state until Thursday for 16-year-olds Mary Harris and Cyrus Zschau, of Moretown; 16-year-old Liam Hale and 15-year-old Janie Cozzi, of Fayston; and 16-year-old Eli Brookens, of Waterbury.

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9:45 a.m.

The soccer coach of one of five high school students killed when their car was hit by a wrong-way driver in Vermont is calling her a "gem of a human being" and a team leader.

Fifteen-year-old Janie Cozzi, of Fayston, Vermont, died at the scene of the crash on Saturday in Williston. She was a sophomore at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, New Hampshire. The other students attended Harwood Union High School in Moretown, Vermont.

Dan Weintraub, Cozzi's soccer coach and European history teacher, says Cozzi scored 26 goals for the team and put in a 100 percent effort at practice. He says "everybody followed her lead."

Weintraub says he and others from Kimball are planning to attend a vigil at Harwood later Monday.

Police believe 36-year-old Steven Bourgoin was driving the pickup truck traveling the wrong way when he crashed into a car, which caught fire. He remained in critical condition Monday at UVM Medical Center.

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12:15 a.m.

A Vermont community is mourning the loss of five high school juniors who were killed when the car they were riding in was hit by a wrong-way driver.

A vigil will be held Monday evening at Harwood Union High School in Moretown.

State police say 36-year-old Steven Bourgoin was behind the wheel of a pickup truck traveling the wrong way on an interstate in Williston Saturday night when he crashed into the students' car, which caught fire.

State police say Bourgoin then stole a police cruiser and crashed into seven more cars. Bourgoin was thrown from the vehicle, which went up in flames. He was taken to a hospital, where he's listed in critical condition. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney.