Jury Clears Volkswagen in Car Crash That Paralyzed Vermont Man

A jury says Volkswagen isn’t to blame for the injuries suffered by a Vermont man in a 2002 wreck that paralyzed him.

The suit stemmed from a Christmas Eve accident in Hanover, New Hampshire, in which a 1999 Jetta driven by Rebecca Beisswenger skidded off a road, hit an embankment and rolled over twice, causing the roof to collapse above 23-year-old Owen Milne, of South Burlington, who was left a paraplegic.

Volkswagen’s lawyers said the car met or exceeded safety standards and blamed the crash on aggressive driving.

On Monday, after nine hours of deliberations spanning two days, the jury in U.S. District Court in Burlington said Volkswagen isn’t responsible for the crash.