HCR 265

R-323  Page 1 of 1
2026
No. R-323. House concurrent resolution congratulating Ryan and Gabrielle Viens on
their life-saving rescue support for Grand Isle County Sheriff’s Department Sgt.
Nicholas Pillsbury.
                                        (H.C.R.265)
   Offered by Representatives Morgan, M. of Milton and Morgan, L. of Milton
   Offered by Senator Brennan
    Whereas, on March 4, 2026, the quick and effective response of two off-duty South
Hero volunteer firefighters, husband and wife Ryan and Gabrielle Viens, proved crucial
to the rescue of Grand Isle County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Nicholas Pillsbury, and
   Whereas, as Grand Isle County Sheriff Ray Allen related the story, at approximately
8:15 p.m., Sgt. Nicholas Pillsbury conducted a traffic stop on Route 2 in South Hero
based on a stop sign violation, and
   Whereas, once Sgt. Nicholas Pillsbury stopped the vehicle, the driver immediately
pulled away, executed a U-turn, and drove straight at the law enforcement officer, who
was standing at the side of his cruiser, and, upon impact, Sgt. Nicholas Pillsbury was
dragged under the vehicle as it headed off the road, and
   Whereas, a tree located on the property of Ryan and Gabrielle Viens halted the
vehicle’s trajectory, and
   Whereas, both Ryan and Gabrielle Viens heard the crash and raced to the site, where
Ryan Viens prevented the operator from backing the vehicle off the property, and he
simultaneously heard Sgt. Nicholas Pillsbury’s yells for help from underneath the
vehicle, and
   Whereas, Ryan Viens dashed off to call for assistance while Gabrielle Viens remained
with Sgt. Nicholas Pillsbury, and once the emergency services crew arrived to oversee
the extraction operation, both assisted in this time-sensitive effort, and
   Whereas, there is no doubt Sgt. Nicholas Pillsbury’s rescue would not have occurred
as rapidly, and possibly not at all, had Ryan and Gabrielle Viens not immediately
responded to the crash, as Sgt. Nicholas Pillsbury was not visible to the rescuers nor
continuously conscious, and
   Whereas, in recognition of Ryan and Gabrielle Viens’s superb responsiveness
throughout this public-safety emergency, Grand Isle County Sheriff Ray Allen has
recommended they be awarded the State Lifesaver of the Year Award, now therefore be
it
   Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
   That the General Assembly congratulates Ryan and Gabrielle Viens on their life-
saving rescue support for Grand Isle County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Nicholas
Pillsbury, and be it further
  Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to
Ryan and Gabrielle Viens.
                                                                           VT LEG #389167 v.1