Crime & Safety
2-Year-Old Child Who Died After Cromwell Crash Identified: Police
State police said the child's death is being treated as suspicious. The child was found unresponsive by the Connecticut River.
CROMWELL, CT — A 2-year-old child who died following a Route 9 crash in Cromwell has been identified. The child was Deroyal Miller, of Cromwell, according to state police.
Police said the child's death is being treated as suspicious. Following the accident, the mother, Devoni Miller, 24, of Cromwell, and her daughter left their car and ended up on the banks of the Connecticut River.
State police Troop H in Hartford responded to a report of a crash on Route 9 South in the area of Exit 25 at 5:20 p.m. Monday.
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Police said Miller was driving a Hyundai Sonata on the Exit 25 on-ramp when her car struck a Kia Forte's rear bumper. Miller's car crossed the center median and hit the metal guardrail on the right shoulder.
Troopers arrived and found Miller's vehicle unoccupied.
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Police later determined that she had exited the car with her child and went down an embankment near Route 9 North.
Police said it was unclear whether the mother and child went down the embankment intentionally or inadvertently.
An extensive search was initiated to find the pair.
About two hours later, first responders found a woman, consistent in appearance with the description witnesses provided of the evading driver in the crash, walking along Route 9 North. She was transported to Middlesex Hospital for evaluation of minor injuries.
Shortly after that, first responders found the unresponsive child in a rocky area near the Connecticut River. Lifesaving measures were initiated, and the child was transported to Middlesex Hospital.
Deroyal Miller was pronounced dead at the hospital at 9:23 p.m.
The state Department of Children and Families was notified. The child's body was transferred to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Farmington for examination.
The Connecticut State Police's Central District Major Crime Squad responded and is handling the investigation.
Anyone who may have witnessed the accident, or seen anything suspicious on the CT River is asked to contact Det. Bria at james.bria@ct.gov.
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