Asher Cooperman Accident Manchester VT Death: 17-Year-Old Killed in Fatal Single-Vehicle Crash in Mount Tabor
The Manchester, Vermont, community is mourning the loss of 17-year-old Asher Cooperman, who was killed in a single-vehicle crash in Mount Tabor on Monday evening. Vermont State Police identified Cooperman as the rear-seat passenger who suffered fatal injuries when the vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree.
The crash happened at approximately 8:39 p.m. on August 10, 2026, along National Forest Highway 10 near Ten Kilns Brook in Mount Tabor, according to Vermont State Police. Troopers responding to the scene found a 2014 Subaru Forester with extensive damage after it had left the dirt roadway and collided with a tree.
Investigators said the vehicle had been traveling at a high rate of speed when it lost traction on the dry dirt road. The Subaru subsequently went off the roadway and struck a tree.
Cooperman, who was seated in the driver’s-side rear seat, suffered fatal injuries in the collision. Police said he was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
Two other teenagers were also inside the vehicle. The 17-year-old driver sustained serious injuries that were not considered life-threatening and was transported to Rutland Regional Medical Center for treatment. A 16-year-old passenger suffered minor, non-life-threatening injuries.
Police said the 16-year-old passenger left the crash scene before troopers arrived and contacted emergency services to report the collision. The teenager was later located away from the crash site. Authorities have not publicly identified the other two teenagers.
All three occupants were reportedly wearing seat belts, according to Vermont State Police. Weather conditions were clear and the road was dry when the crash occurred.
The death of a teenager has left family, friends, and members of the Manchester community confronting an especially painful loss. At only 17, Cooperman’s life was cut short at an age when he would ordinarily have been looking toward graduation, future plans, friendships, and other milestones.
The circumstances of the crash remain under investigation. Vermont State Police have indicated that civil and court action is pending, while investigators continue reviewing the evidence surrounding the collision.
Officials have not released additional details about Cooperman’s personal life, family, education, or activities. Because he was a minor, information about his loved ones should be shared carefully and only when confirmed by the family or an authorized source.
The tragedy has also renewed attention to the dangers associated with high-speed travel on unpaved or dirt roads. Investigators’ preliminary account indicates that the vehicle lost traction before leaving the road, but the full circumstances will be determined through the ongoing investigation.
For those who knew Asher, however, the circumstances of the crash are only one part of a much larger loss. Family members and friends will remember him for the relationships and experiences he shared with them rather than simply for the accident that ended his life.
As the investigation continues, those closest to Asher are left to cope with the sudden loss of a young life. The Manchester community can provide support to his family and friends while respecting their privacy during this difficult period.
Funeral and memorial arrangements have not been included in the initial police reports. Any information regarding services should be confirmed through Asher’s family or an official funeral-home announcement before publication.
The crash serves as a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly a routine journey can turn into a tragedy. For the family of Asher Cooperman, the loss of their 17-year-old loved one will be felt far beyond the immediate aftermath of the collision.
Asher Cooperman, 17, of Manchester, Vermont, died after the vehicle he was riding in left National Forest Highway 10 in Mount Tabor and struck a tree. Vermont State Police continue to investigate the fatal single-vehicle crash.
