Purse grab pulls

woman off road

SHAFTSBURY — A Bennington woman said she went off the road after reaching for her purse Friday night.

Vermont State Police said Kaitlyn Surdam, 22, was driving a 2002 Toyota Tacoma on Cold Spring Road at around 11 p.m. when she left the road, going over an embankment and into heavy brush.

Police said the truck was a total loss, sustaining extensive damage to the passenger side and undercarriage. Surdam had to be extricated from the car, with rescue workers cutting off the driver’s side door.

Police said Surdam was not wearing her seat belt and suffered a minor cut to her lip.

Surdam told police she pulled the steering wheel too far in the process of reaching for her purse.