Man Suffers Life-Threatening Injuries In Crash, Fire On Route 15 In North Haven: UPDATE

NORTH HAVEN, CT — In a Friday morning update, Connecticut State Police identified the driver who suffered life-threatening injuries in a fiery crash on Route 15 Thursday night as Paul Kus, 46, of Sandy Hook in Newtown.

Firefighters responded to the scene at about 8 p.m. Thursday on Route 15 South near Exit 63 for a reported car fire, according to North Haven Fire Chief Paul Januszewski.

Januszewski said arriving units found a fully involved car fire that was determined to be the result of a crash.

Rescuers found a male victim in the driver's seat and extricated him from the vehicle, according to Januszewski. The driver was taken to Yale New Haven Hospital with serious burn injuries. He was later transferred to The Connecticut Burn Center at Bridgeport Hospital.

Firefighters extinguished the fire and determined that the car, a Volvo of indeterminate model and year, left the roadway near the exit, crashed into the Hartford Turnpike bridge and came to a stop on the embankment.

The incident is under investigation by the Connecticut State Police.

In the Friday morning update, State Police said Kus was driving in the left lane when the vehicle veered off the roadway and collided with the metal beam guardrail in the center median.

The vehicle continued to sideswipe the guardrail for about 80 feet before crossing both lanes to the right before finally coming to a stop in the grass area of the right shoulder, according to police.

The vehicle then caught on fire.

The case remains under investigation by Connecticut State Police. Anyone who witnessed the collision or has any information is asked to contact Trooper Hart at Troop I at 203-393-4200.