Updated: Fatal Accident Closes Rt 6 in Bethel

The driver of a gold toned Ford van is dead after crashing head-on into a parked dark blue Kenworth truck on Route 6 between McNeil Road and Old Hawleyville Road in Bethel Tuesday afternoon.

Chief Jeffery Finch of the Bethel Police Department said that at this time it is not clear what had happened to cause the driver to cross over the line and drive full speed into the truck.  

The driver of the WMJ Services of Newtown truck had just left the truck to go across the street for a cup of coffee. During a short window, the van driver either lost control of the van, fell asleep at the wheel or suffered some other unknown cause that resulted in the fatal accident.

Photos show the extent of the crash, but no determining angles will be shown until police have contacted next of kin and release the victim’s name.

That portion of Route 6, a major commuter thruway, was closed Tuesday afternoon but reopened after 3:30 p.m.