The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Three killed in ‘horrific’ collision
Victims’ names not yet released in fatal 2-car crash on Route 16
EAST HAMPTON — A third person has died following what one witness described as a “horrific” two-car collision on Route 16 on Tuesday afternoon near the Salmon River.
Two vehicles — a Jeep and a Buick — collided head-on at approximately 5:50 p.m. The crash occurred at the middle of Flatbrook Road, off Route 16, Police Chief Dennis Woessner said Wednesday.
A woman and a man died at the scene. A second woman was flown by LifeStar to Hartford Hospital, where she later died, Woessner said.
Both women were riding in one vehicle, and the man in the other,
the chief said.
Police are still attempting notify the third’s victim’s family, Woessner said. Until then, police are withholding the names of all three victims.
The state police accident reconstruction team closed off a large portion of Route 16 for eight hours. The investigation could continue for about four months before a report is issued, Woessner said.
The road reopened just before 2 a.m. Wednesday, according to the state Department of Transportation.
The crash was so violent that basically all police know is the two vehicles collided. As of Wednesday afternoon, “We don’t even know which vehicle crossed over into the other lane,” Woessner said.
East Hampton officers spent much of Wednesday interviewing witnesses in an effort to provide police with a better understanding of the how the accident unfolded. Police hope to inspect the wreckage of the two vehicles this week “to determine if any mechanical defect” may have played a role in the accident, Woessner said.
Beyond that, police are also awaiting the results of toxicology tests which could show the presence of alcohol and/or drugs in the bloodstreams of either driver.
Toxicology tests are routine in any serious or fatal accident investigation. Generally, those results will be not be available for four to six weeks, Woessner said.
East Hampton police, fire department and ambulance responded, as well as Colchester and East Haddam fire crews, according to East Hampton police.