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Two dead in wrong-way crash on I-95 in Stonington

STONINGTON – A wrong-way driver caused a multi-car crash on I-95 last night, killing that driver and a former East Haven High School coach. State Police T...
stonington wrong-way

STONINGTON – A wrong-way driver caused a multi-car crash on I-95 last night, killing that driver and a former East Haven High School coach.

State Police Troop E in Montville was notified of a driver headed north in the left lane of I-95 South about 6:15 p.m. Saturday. They could not prevent that driver, 32-year-old Larry Stallings of Bristol, from crashing head-on with a car driven by 55-year-old Melvin Wells of Hamden. Both Stallings and Wells were killed in the collision. Their vehicles then collided with two other cars, one of which was carrying 6 people. People in those two cars did not sustain any serious injuries.

Stallings, the wrong-way driver, also had a passenger in the car who was seriously injured, according to state police.

The southbound side of the highway was completely shut down between exits 91 and 90 for several hours while police investigated and the highway was cleared.

The other fatality, Melvin Wells, was head coach for East Haven High School’s football team. He had previously been assistant coach there, and had coached in the New Haven school system. He left East Haven after the 2017 season.

East Haven High School principal Vin DeNuzzo tells FOX61 Wells made strong positive impressions on many students, some of whom are still attending the school. DeNuzzo says counselors will be available for any student who needs them this week.

Athletic Director Anthony Verderame told FOX61 Wells “was truly one of the most amazing men I’ve ever met in my life.”

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