Crime & Safety

Distracted Driver Charged For Fatal Crash In Clinton: Police

A woman has been arrested in connection to a head-on crash on Route 81 that killed a man earlier this year.

CLINTON, CT — A Middletown woman has been charged in connection to a crash on Route 81 in Clinton that killed a Killingworth man this past May, according to police. Diedre Koziel, 49, was arrested on a warrant Thursday (Nov. 16) following a lengthy investigation into the crash, which occurred May 4 on Route 81 near Rocky Ledge Drive in Clinton.

Koziel was operating in the southbound lane on Route 81 and struck a vehicle head-on in the northbound lane on Route 81, according to Sgt. Jeremiah Dunn. The operator of the other vehicle, Andrew Asermely of Killingworth, was killed as a result of the crash. He was 60 years old.

Dunn said the investigation determined that Koziel was at fault and caused the accident.

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Koziel, of Miner Street in Middletown, was arrested on charges of negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, distracted driving while committing a moving violation, failure to drive in the proper lane and weapons in a motor vehicle.

She was held on a $75,000 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned at Middlesex Superior Court on Friday, Nov. 17.

Find out what's happening in Clintonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Pictured: Diedre Koziel, 49, of Middletown / Clinton Police Department

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