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Deadly dump truck crash closes I-95 north for 7 hours in Milford

MILFORD – A dump truck traveling northbound on I-95 northbound in Milford Thursday morning had its bed in an upright position, causing it to ram an overpa...

MILFORD - A dump truck traveling northbound on I-95 northbound in Milford Thursday morning had its bed in an upright position, causing it to ram an overpass, triggering a deadly accident just before 8 a.m.

Northbound I-95 was closed for approximately seven hours between exits 39b and 41, after driver Anthony Drozd was ejected from the vehicle and killed.

State Police say the dump truck was traveling on I-95 when at some point, likely unbeknownst to Drozd, the dump body raised up, or was accidentally left in the raised position. As Drozd drove, a female driver in another car saw the dump body up in the air as they both approached the Quarry Road overpass. As a result, she changed lanes to her left to get further away from the truck.

As she changed lanes, Drozd struck the overpass with the dump body, striking a SOT highway sign.

The impact caused the truck to roll over onto its driver's side. That's when Drozd was ejected.

After colliding with the overpass, the truck's dump body broke free from the truck, and twisted around. At some point, the car was trying to avoid the truck struck the dump body.

Drozd was rushed to Yale New haven Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. The driver of the car was not seriously injured.

Onlookers, peeking through the fence on the Quarry Road overpass, were amazed by the mangled metal.

"I watched this highway being built and this is one of the worst accidents I’ve ever seen," said Milford resident Carl Smey, who was out on a walk with his dog.

"That person sustained minor injuries," said Milford Fire Department Battalion Chief Anthony Fabrizi, "Even though their vehicle sustained some heavy damage they were not severely injured."

There were numerous passersby, who stopped to render aid. One  of them was amazed by how many stopped to help.

"There was an ER doctor and an EMT that were also luckily there and were able to provide any first care," said Vlad Alexandrescu of New Haven.

He was on his way to work when witnessing this deadly crash.

"I took half a day," he said. "I saw some stuff I wish I hadn’t seen. So, I’m going to go and get my mind straight."

The identity of the truck driver killed and the company, for which he worked, have not yet been released by police.

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