Clinton Man Dies In Crash On I-91 In Wallingford

WALLINGFORD, CT — A Clinton man died after his vehicle struck a tree head-on off I-91 South in Wallingford Thursday afternoon. The southbound side of I-91 was closed in Wallingford as emergency crews responded to a crash with life-threatening injuries at about 3:15 p.m. State Police confirmed late Thursday night that Billy Rubendunst, 32, of Glennwood Road in Clinton, sustained fatal injuries in the crash.

Rubendunst was traveling on I-91 South between Exit 15 and the Wallingford rest area when he lost control of his vehicle for an unknown reason and struck the right shoulder guardrail at the Durham Road overpass, according to state police. (To sign up for Clinton breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

After the vehicle struck the guardrail, it continued southbound and crossed all three traffic lanes and traveled into the center median. Once the vehicle traveled into the center median, it continued and struck a tree head on, police said.

Rubendunst sustained fatal injuries as a result of the impact with the tree. He was the single occupant of the vehicle and no further individuals or vehicles were involved in the accident, police said.

The southbound side of I-91 in Wallingford was closed for several hours and reopened around 8 p.m.

The crash remains under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact Trooper First Class Matthew Herz at 203-393-4200.

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