Former state senator hurt in crash
Gomes, 84, in critical condition after Bridgeport collision
BRIDGEPORT — Former Democratic state Sen. Ed Gomes, 84, is in critical condition after a collision on Boston Avenue on Sunday night, according to relatives and city officials.
“He had head injuries. ... He pulled through his operation. He’s not really out of the woods yet,” one of Gomes’ brothers, William Aranjo, said Monday afternoon.
“We’re just praying for the best,” said the former state legislator’s niece, Latoya Johnson-Aranjo, Monday. While she described him as a very tough man, “he’s not 20 years old.”
Just before 7 p.m. Sunday, Bridgeport’s 911 communications center received a call about a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Boston and Noble avenues.
Initially, Gomes was not identified as one of the drivers. Good friend state Sen. Marilyn Moore just before 11 p.m. Sunday on Facebook asked for prayers for Gomes, writing: “Serious car accident. He is out of surgery.”
Then on Monday morning, Scott Appleby, director of emergency communications and emergency management, confirmed Gomes was involved in the crash, sustained serious injuries and was in critical condition.
Clive Henry, a 19-year-old Bridgeport man, sustained non-life-threatening injuries, Appleby said.
The vehicles collided as Henry was driving west on Boston Avenue in a red 2002 Acura RSX when Gomes, driving a gray 2010 Ford Fusion east, tried to turn into the Kentucky Fried Chicken parking lot at 325 Boston Ave., Police Capt. Kevin Gilleran said.
“The impact of the cars colliding with one another caused significant damage to the vehicles and injuries
to both operators,” Gilleran said, adding that there were no passengers in either vehicle.
Firefighters and medics rescued the drivers from their vehicles. Gomes was rushed to Bridgeport Hospital, while Henry was taken St. Vincent’s Medical Center, Gilleran said.
Williams said the family has been speaking with doctors by phone and unable to visit the hospital because of restrictions related to controlling coronavirus infections during the worldwide pandemic.
“They’re just waiting another 24 hours to see what happens,” Williams said of his brother. “He’s really not responding now.”
The city’s Crash Investigation Team with the help of the Southern Fairfield County Traffic Unit is investigating the crash, with Traffic Division Officer Cynthia Dolyak leading the probe.
A former steel worker and labor organizer, Gomes was a member of Bridgeport’s City Council when, in 2005, he won a special election to succeed state Sen. Ernie Newton representing the 23rd District, which includes portions of Bridgeport and Stratford.
Gomes, a Democrat, garnered a reputation as a tough, plain-spoken, pro-union legislator who could display an independent streak when it came to breaking with party leaders in Bridgeport.
In 2011, Gomes, then 75, had triple bypass surgery, and some local political leaders claimed at the time that they thought he was readying to retire. Ultimately Gomes decided to seek re-election, but faced two Democratic primary opponents — Newton, who had sought a comeback, and state Rep. Andres Ayala. Ayala won and went on to succeed Gomes.
Four years later, after Ayala resigned his seat to become commissioner of the department of motor vehicles, Gomes said he wanted to return to his old seat but lost the local party’s endorsement. So he ran as the Working Families’ candidate and triumphed, making history as the first candidate in the nation elected to a state legislature solely on the Working Families' ballot line.
Gomes remained in the legislature until his retirement in early 2019.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Traffic Division at 203-576-7640.