ASHFORD, Conn — Two tractor-trailers crashed on Interstate 84 early Thursday, landing in a pond and killing one person, officials said.
The crash happened just before 2 a.m. on I-84 just after Exit 72 on the Ashford-Union line. First responders and state police were called to the scene, and at least one person was taken to a nearby hospital with reported serious injuries.
Two tractor-trailers were seen submerged in Morey Pond, located next to the highway, with one of the trailers flipped upside down.
Officials confirmed one person died from their injuries. The victim was identified by state police Saturday as Carlos Vega, 45, of Enfield.
The entire Eastbound side of the highway closed at Exit 72 and has since reopened. The crash initially shut down the right lane and the on-ramp.
State police said the accident reconstruction unit, truck squad, and dive teams were also called to the scene. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and the Department of Consumer Protection were also contacted and were called to the scene.
The crash, which prompted the highway to close for several hours, came hours before Gov. Ned Lamont and other state officials announced a new effort to improve traffic safety, including more state police patrols on highways where crashes and fatalities have become more common.
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Jennifer Glatz is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jglatz@fox61.com.
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