Authorities say Barre, Vermont mechanic has been charged with manslaughter and reckless endangerment for passing a state inspection for a defective vehicle that later crashed, killing a woman.
The Vermont Attorney General's office says Steven Jalbert acted with criminal negligence in May 2014 when he allowed the vehicle to pass an inspection when its brake lines and rocker panels were rusted, corroded and visibly unsafe.
Jalbert pleaded not guilty on Tuesday.
Authorities say the braking system failed and the vehicle hit a tree on July 5, 2014, causing the death of Elizabeth Ibey of Barre. The attorney general's office says the vehicle's rotted frame did not properly absorb the impact of the crash.
Jalbert could not be reached for comment; no phone listing exists in his name.
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