State police seek public's help to find witnesses in Danbury wrong-way crash

State police say early Sunday morning, 25-year-old Danielle Dempsey, from Danbury, was driving south on Route 7 toward I-84 when 33-year-old Charles Connors, from Milford, hit her head on and killed her. They say he was going the wrong way.

Mark Sudol

Sep 11, 2023, 9:49 PM

Updated 234 days ago

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State police are hoping to hear from anyone who may have witnessed a wrong-way crash that killed a Danbury woman Sunday.
They say they are still trying to determine how it happened.
State police say early Sunday morning, 25-year-old Danielle Dempsey, from Danbury, was driving south on Route 7 toward I-84 when 33-year-old Charles Connors, from Milford, hit her head on and killed her. They say he was going the wrong way.
"It's unfortunate for her family itself. I reach out to them with condolences to them," said Connecticut State Police Trooper Jannina Bonilla.
State police say the stretch of road on Route 7 near the interchange with I-84 can be very dangerous, and in the case of Sunday morning's crash, deadly.
The state is already expanding signage and its efforts to catch wrong-way drivers.
The State Department of Transportation says 23 people died from wrong-way crashes in Connecticut last year, and after Sunday's fatality there have now been six so far this year.
State police are offering advice.
"What we recommend is if it's late at night and you're driving, just stay in the center or the right lane in the direction that you're traveling. Because a lot of the time, a wrong-way driver will come on into the left lane thinking it's their right lane," said Bonilla.
Connors was taken to Danbury Hospital.  State police don't know the extent of his injuries. They are investigating.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact state police. Please contact Trooper Dogali #746 at Troop A - Southbury, 203-267-2200 or Matthew.Dogali@ct.gov.


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