Driver charged with second-degree murder in Burlington crash

From Burlington Free Press:

The man accused of driving drunk and leading Burlington police on a high-speed 3-minute chase that ended in a fatal crash will be arraigned today on a new charge of second-degree murder.

Burlington police issued the citation to Timothy Dowd, 52, of Hinesburg on Tuesday morning. Prosecutors also intend to file new charges of driving under the influence with death resulting and aggravated operation of a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent against Dowd at 10:30 a.m. today in Vermont Superior Court in Burlington.

If convicted of second-degree murder, Dowd could face 20 years to life in prison.

Dowd has pleaded not guilty to the initial charges of gross negligent operation with death resulting and attempting to elude law-enforcement officers, stemming from the Dec. 26 crash. Dowd slammed the Jeep Cherokee he was driving into a Kia Spectra driven by Kaye Borneman, 43, near the intersection of Main and St. Paul streets, police have said. The impact killed Borneman instantly, according to court papers.

Dowd has been held without bail at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility in South Burlington since being arraigned Dec. 27 on the initial charges.

A toxicology report indicates Dowd had a blood alcohol content of 0.134 percent during the crash, Burlington Police Lt. Jennifer Morrison has said, more than the legal limit for driving of 0.08 percent. He refused a breath analysis soon after the crash, but four hours later he had a blood alcohol content at 0.071 percent, according to court papers.

Dowd, who has been convicted of four previous DUIs in three states but had a valid Vermont driver’s license, sped away from police after being pulled over for failing to observe stop signs at two Old North End intersections, police said. He ran eight red traffic lights before colliding with Borneman’s sedan, according to police.

Police suspect Dowd first rode as a passenger in the Jeep Cherokee, and took the wheel after the driver, whom authorities have not identified, went into a Burlington residence to buy drugs.

Contact Matt Ryan at 651-4849 or mryan@burlingtonfreepress.com.