Woman, 81, hurt in crash in Cromwell

CROMWELL — An 81-year-old New Britain woman was believed to be seriously hurt after her vehicle lost control on Route 9 South and struck a light pole Saturday afternoon, state police say.

Connecticut State Police said the motor vehicle accident occurred around 12:44 p.m. Saturday on Route 9 South in the area of exit 19 in Cromwell. Four people were sent to the hospital and that stretch of the highway was shut down for several hours after the accident, but reopened around 5:30 p.m, they added.

According to police, a Southampton, Mass., man was driving in the left center lane of the four-lane highway when his 2014 Toyota Tacoma was hit by a New Britain woman, 81, who had been traveling alongside him in the right center lane. Police said the woman lost control of her 2000 Buick Regal for an unknown reason.

After hitting the man's Tacoma, the woman's SUV struck a light pole in the center median and rolled over, police said. She and two passengers in her vehicle, who were believed to have suffered only minor injuries, were sent to Hartford Hospital, according to police. They did not provide the woman's condition in the hospital.

The Southampton man did not appear to be hurt but was sent to Middlesex Hospital, police said. The crash also knocked down the light pole, and the state Department of Transportation was notified of the damage, police said.

The incident is still being investigated. Authorities asked that any witnesses to the crash, and anyone who was driving through the area at the time of the crash and whose vehicles are equipped with a dashcam, contact Trooper Goddard #1170 at evan.goddard@ct.gov.