John D. Picard

John D. Picard, better known as J.D. to his friends, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, according to Vermont State Police.The 17-year-old senior at U-32 High School collided with a friend as their snow machines crested opposite sides of the same hill, police said.

Police said Picard was one of seven snowmobilers out for a Sunday morning ride on a Vermont Association of Snow Travelers trail near his Portal Road home in Middlesex.
...
Lamson, 26, of Berlin, collided with Picard as the two crested a hill.
...
Picard, a lacrosse and one-time football player at U-32, was known as a hardworking laborer and avid outdoorsman, according to a family friend.

Randy Brown, a physics teacher at U-32 and neighbor of the Picard family, said Picard embodied all the characteristics of an old-school Vermonter.
...
Last week, Brown said, Picard helped him trap a problem mink on his property.
...
Though a back injury forced the burly Picard to forego his junior and senior seasons on the team, Law said Picard continue to impress off the field.
...
Law said Picard took pride in his work and anticipated a career in the excavating field.
...
Even so, Law said, Picard couldn't help himself from taking part in the sideline celebration after U-32's championship victory.
...
U-32 teacher Dan Gandin taught Picard in five separate classes at the school.
...
Brown said Picard had an impressive intellect, even if it wasn't necessarily geared toward traditional academic pursuits.
...
Brown said Picard was no stranger to off-road vehicles.
...
Gandin said Picard won't soon be forgotten.