Police: Motorcyclist had elevated blood-alcohol level, THC in system

Glastonbury teen was killed in double fatal crash in September

A teen motorcyclist killed in a double fatal crash in Glastonbury in September had an elevated blood-alcohol content, THC in his system and was speeding leading up to the crash, the Glastonbury Police Department said Thursday.

Gordon “Mac” Southby, 18, of Glastonbury, and 15-year-old Andra Spencer, of Colchester, were killed in a crash between a motorcycle and an SUV on Hebron Avenue in Glastonbury on Sept. 25, 2022.

Following an investigation, it was determined that several factors contributed to the crash, each of which was determined to be due to Southby’s operation of his motorcycle, according to police.

On the night of the crash police responded to the intersection of Hebron Avenue and the Route 2 on-ramp for a reported crash.

Spencer, who was sitting in the back seat of the SUV, and Southby were transported to the hospital for serious injuries and were later pronounced dead. The SUV driver, identified as Spencer’s mother, Amorette Hight, and a passenger were transported to the hospital with serious injuries, police said.

According to police, Southby had an elevated blood-alcohol level and THC in his system. At the time of the crash Southby had two pending cases for alleged reckless driving and driving without a license, according to court records. Both cases were dismissed following his death, and his mother heavily refuted their validity in September.

According to a warrant for one of the pending cases, Southby was also allegedly involved in other incidents with his motorcycle several times earlier in 2022.

“This has been an ongoing problem,” the officer wrote in the arrest warrant. “I have given Southby verbal warnings about riding dirt bikes on the roadway, along with a ticket and a summons for the same behavior. The behavior has continued, progressed and is becoming more dangerous.”

Spencer was a Bacon Academy student who was a week away from turning 16. Her “Sweet 16” party was already planned and she was looking forward to it, according to her father, Brian Spencer, following the crash.

She was killed while heading home to Colchester in her mother’s SUV, according to her father.

Spencer died about 24 hours after her homecoming dance. Her dad described her as a social person with great friends. She wanted to go to college to become a therapist.

“She cared so much for those who needed help,” her dad told the Courant after the crash. “She was so alive and happy. She loved taking pictures of sunsets.”

Southby’s mother, Veronica, said he was on his way home from getting a cheeseburger with money he made helping a man fix his car. Riding his motorcycle was a passion of his, his mother told the Courant after the crash.

He was a senior at Glastonbury High School. He was an Eagle Scout and wanted to be a Navy SEAL, his mother said.