16-year-old, 84-year-old killed in head-on crash in Winchester

The Winchester Police Department identified the two people killed and two injured in a serious head-on collision on Route 44 in Winchester on Tuesday night.

Around 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Winchester police responded to a two-car crash in an area of Route 44 referred to as the “rock cuts.” Investigations into the crash determined that a white Lexus NX300, driven by 23-year-old Glen Ragin Jr. of Torrington, was traveling east on Route 44. The Lexus passed a box truck and veered into the westbound lane, hitting a Chevy Equinox, driven by 84-year-old William O’leary of Plymouth, head-on.

O’leary was airlifted to Hartford Hospital and was later pronounced dead, Winchester Interim Chief Sgt. Kevin Kinahan said Wednesday. A 16-yearold boy from New Hartford who was a passenger in the Chevy was pronounced dead at the scene. Police did not release the name of the 16-year-old victim due to his age and at the request of the family.

The Lexus front-seat passenger, 18-year-old Emanuell Caban of Waterbury, sustained numerous injuries, including a fractured femur, and was airlifted to Hartford Hospital. Ragin sustained minor injuries and was transported to Waterbury Hospital, Kinahan said.

“This is a horrible, tragic and avoidable incident, and our hearts go out to the family and friends of those individuals who needlessly lost their lives,” Kinahan said in a statement.

The Winchester Police Department and the Connecticut State Police CARS Unit are investigating the crash. Anyone with information regarding this collision is asked to contact the Winchester Police Department at 860-3792721.