Wolcott crash leaves 18-year-old driver dead, 4 others injured

Lina PortmanJune 3, 2024

0 2 minutes read

The front passenger, aged 17, was in critical condition and three rear passengers, one aged 16 and two aged 18, were “very seriously injured”, police said.

WOLCOTT, Conn. — A vehicle crashed into a tree Saturday night in Wolcott, leaving the 18-year-old driver dead and four other teenagers hospitalized, town police said.

Police said they received a report at 10:02 p.m. about a vehicle that had left the road and struck a tree in the area of Spindle Hill Road. As they headed to the scene, officers were also informed by dispatch that the car was “now on fire.”

The vehicle was found by police on a small embankment, lying on its side against a tree, police said, noting that the facade was on fire.

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Two people were out of the vehicle when officers arrived and told them three were still inside.

As a Wolcott firefighter showed up and worked to put out the fire, police said an officer pulled a person out of the broken rear window, as well as a rear passenger.

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Two other people still trapped in the vehicle were evacuated after the Wolcott Fire Department arrived and extinguished the fire, according to police.

The driver, aged 18, was found dead at the scene, police said. Their identity has not been released at this time.

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A 17-year-old in the front passenger seat was taken by a Life Star helicopter to Hartford Hospital in critical condition, according to police. Three rear passengers, aged 16, 18 and 18, were “very seriously injured” and were taken by ambulance to local hospitals.

The cause of the crash is currently known as the Naugatuck Valley Collision Investigation Team, made up of police officers from area cities, is investigating. Wolcott Police Sgt. Jeff Reichard is leading the investigation.

Wolcott School Superintendent Shawn Simpson said in a statement that two of the injured teens were current students at Wolcott High School and that “all of those involved had ties at one time to Wolcott Public Schools.” .

“Our sincere condolences and thoughts are with those involved, their family, friends and first responders,” Simpson said.

Simpson noted that “counseling and grief support services” will be offered to all students and staff, and that a team of “student support staff including counselors, social workers, school psychologists and mental health professionals” will be available to anyone in need throughout the year. the next few days from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Wolcott High School.

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