The Norwalk Hour

State police respond to 5,650 calls, fatal crashes Thanksgivi­ng weekend

- By Ben Lambert

As the Thanksgivi­ng travel period continues, troopers have responded to nearly 5,650 calls for service so far this holiday weekend.

Those calls were made between 12:01 a.m. Wednesday and 7 a.m. Sunday, including 338 crashes. There were more than 1,300 calls on Friday and Saturday alone, including three fatal crashes, according to state police.

Troopers have issued 787 citations so far this holiday weekend, including for seat belt violations, unsafe lane changes and distracted driving, and handed out 247 speeding tickets, state police said.

Troopers have made 36 arrests for driving under the influence so far this Thanksgivi­ng holiday weekend.

Adejah Valentine, 22, of Hartford, and Tajay Walsh, 19, of Manchester, were killed early Saturday in a Route 15 crash in Wallingfor­d after their vehicle traveled off the road, struck a tree and rolled.

Tianzhu Yuan, 35, of North Haven died after his vehicle was struck by a wrong way driver in Milford around 2 a.m. Saturday

James Tedesco, 41, of Milford, was arrested in connection with the incident, police said. He was charged with operating under the influence, although more charges are anticipate­d in the case, police said.

Another person died after being thrown from his vehicle in a separate crash around 3 a.m. Saturday on I-95 southbound in West Haven, police said.

Police identified the victim as Delvon West, 35, of

Bridgeport.

According to police, West and another person were traveling in the right lane of the highway near exit 42 around 2:30 a.m., when their Jeep Grand Cherokee was struck in the rear by a Dodge Challenger suspected to be speeding.

The impact caused the Cherokee to veer into the right shoulder and strike a metal beam guardrail, police said. The SUV then rolled over and caused West, who wasn’t wearing a seat belt, to be ejected, they said. He was pronounced dead on scene, police added.

Last year, state police said they responded to a total 7,500 calls for service during the holiday weekend.

In 2021, state police said they issued 501 speeding tickets and made 50 DUI arrests.

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