State police: 4 people killed in wrong-way crash on the Merritt Parkway in Stratford

Troop G responded to a two-vehicle collision involving a wrong-way driver with serious injuries at 1:46 a.m., police say.

Nicole Alarcon Soares, Emily Knapton and Sandrina Rodrigues

May 9, 2024, 4:09 PM

Updated 146 days ago

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State police said four people were killed Thursday morning in a wrong-way crash on the Merritt Parkway in Stratford.
Police said they first received reports of a wrong-way driver near Exit 52 just before 1:45 a.m. on Thursday.
Police said a Honda CRV was driving northbound in the southbound lane on Merritt Parkway when they struck a Chrysler Town & Country head-on.
Officials said the driver was the only person inside the Honda CR-V.
The driver of the car going in the wrong direction has not been identified yet due to the severity of the injuries sustained in the accident. An autopsy is still pending.
The car involved in the accident is registered in Massachusetts, according to the police.
All three people in the Chrysler who died are from Easton. The driver was identified as Steven P. Rowland, 65. The passengers were identified as Thomas Lucian Vitale, 81, and Olga Vitale, 81.
All four occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.
There was no initial word on speed, seatbelts or any additional factors.
The southbound lane was closed for seven hours, while the northbound lane was closed for some time.
Anyone with information is asked to contact state police at 203-696-2500.