Speed Appears to Be Factor in Accident on 95; Extrication Required

Around 8:45 a.m., Branford Fire Department Engine 1 and Branford Police responded to a rollover accident on I95 south, near exit 55, with possible reports of ejection.

Branford Fire Deputy Chief Ron Mullen said three people were involved in the one-car rollover and speed appeared to be a factor.

When crews arrived, one female, about 30 who was the passenger, was 30 feet from  the “fairly new” Volvo, reported Mullen and the driver, a male about 35, was pinned in the car.  Another passenger, a male about 24, was in the backseat and rescued.

After taking reports from witnesses who saw the female victim crawl from the sun roof of the vehicle, it was determined that there were no ejections, said Mullen.

Mullen reported that crews worked for about 15 minutes to cut the roof off the vehicle and extricate the driver. He was fading and in and out of consciousness said Mullen.

The car appeared to have been traveling at excessive speed said Mullen, who noted the skid marks to be sideways at the accident scene as if the vehicle tried to apply brakes after turning. The vehicle, reported Mullen, appeared to roll up a hill and strike a light pole on the driver’s door, pinning the victim. The car came to rest on the passenger side.

There were no witnesses of the accident who stopped, reported Mullen, but one witness stepped forward to report that the vehicle had passed him in Guilford at a high rate of speed.  From this report as well as analyzing the skid marks, Mullen said they were able to conclude that speed was a factor. All three victims were transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital and no one appeared to have life-threatening injuries. All victims could have been related reported Mullen and all were from Stamford.

The Connecticut Police also arrive on scene as well as Stony Creek Engine 5 to assist the accident scene. The highway was closed at exit 56 for 25 minutes during the extrication and reopened at approximately 9:45 a.m. Traffic was diverted to Route 1 for the interim.