Fatal Wrong-Way Crash on I-84 East in Waterbury Claims Life of Francisca Cortez-Arias: 3 Others Injured

One person has died and three others have been injured in a tragic wrong-way crash on Sunday night in Waterbury. The incident occurred on Interstate 84 East, and authorities are currently investigating the cause of the accident.

According to the state police, the collision involved a Honda Accord and a BMW. The 32-year-old male driver of the Honda Accord from Danbury was traveling in the left lane of I-84 East when he collided with the BMW. The BMW attempted to avoid the collision by swerving, but was still sideswiped by the Honda Accord.

Following the initial collision, the Honda Accord was redirected into the right lane of the highway, where it crashed head-on into a Chevy Tahoe. The driver of the Honda Accord, who was traveling in the wrong direction, suffered life-threatening injuries and was rushed to the hospital for treatment. Tragically, a passenger in the Honda Accord, identified as 45-year-old Francisca Cortez-Arias from Danbury, was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital but succumbed to her injuries.

Fortunately, the driver and passenger of the Chevy Tahoe sustained only minor injuries and were also taken to the hospital for further examination. On the other hand, the three individuals inside the BMW were fortunate to escape unharmed.

The authorities are currently investigating the incident to determine the factors that led to this tragic wrong-way crash. They are urging anyone with information or who may have witnessed the accident to come forward and contact Trooper Magliore #964 at Troop A-Southbury. Alternatively, individuals can also reach out to Clifford.Magliore@ct.gov.

This devastating wrong-way crash serves as a somber reminder of the importance of adhering to traffic laws and remaining vigilant while driving. It is crucial to always remain focused on the road and follow the designated lanes to prevent such tragic accidents from occurring.