Man charged with DUI, gas theft

POWNAL — A Bennington man was arrested Friday night after what police say was a drunken driving crash that followed a theft of gas from a nearby service station.

Police were called to a single vehicle crash on Palmer Drive at 8:32 p.m. where they found the vehicle involved in the crash abandoned.

Just prior to the crash, the car was reported involved in a theft of gas from a Stewart’s gas station on Route 7, police said.

The owner and alleged operator of the vehicle, Patrick J. Sears, 41, was found shortly after and arrested on charges of drunken driving and petty larceny.

Sears was released on a citation to appear in Bennington criminal court later this month.