Victims Identified In Wrong-Way Crash That Killed 4 In CT

HARTFORD, CT — Police have identified the final two victims in the wrong-way crash that killed four people on I-84 in Hartford over the weekend. The crash was reported Saturday at 2:46 a.m. and closed the highway for four hours, according to NBC CT.

A Kenworth W900 truck was traveling on I-84 eastbound near Exit 51 in the left lane. A Chevy Equinox was driving the wrong way on the highway also in the left lane, according to police. The Chevy struck the truck head on and ended up in the center lanes of the road, police said.

The truck's driver was taken to Hartford Hospital for treatment of possible minor injuries. The four occupants of the Chevy were all pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.

The driver of the Chevy was identified as Natachia Izekia Rivera-Hall, 40, of Hartford. One of the passengers was identified as April Slade, 40, of Hartford.

In an update Monday afternoon, police said they were able to identify the other two passengers with the assistance of the Chief Medical Examiner’s Officer along with the national fingerprint database of the FBI.

The front/right passenger was identified as Yarelis Ramos, 37, of Hartford, and Quashonda Grant, 31, of Hartford, was identified as the rear/left passenger, according to police. Next of kin have been notified, police said.

Any witness to the crash is asked to contact TFC John Wilson #1060, at Troop H, at 860-534-1098 or through email at john.wilson@ct.gov. Police are also asking anyone who has a dashcam and was driving through the area at the time of the crash, to contact Wilson.

It was one of two wrong-way fatal crashes reported in the state over the weekend. Two people were killed in a wrong-way crash on I-91 in Meriden about 20 minutes before the crash in Hartford.

See related: 6 Killed In 2 Wrong-Way Accidents In Connecticut: Reports

Two people were also killed in a multi-vehicle crash Sunday morning on Route 175 in Newington, according to police.

In an update Monday morning, police identified the victims as 61-year-old Mark Steiner of East Hampton and 29-year-old Alexis Soto of Wethersfield.

Police responded to East Cedar Street, Route 175, around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday and the road was closed from Route 5 to Hawley Street for several hours while the accident was investigated.

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State police said the issue of wrong-way drivers is not unique to Connecticut and is a nationwide battle and "unfortunately is not something new."

"When calls are received reporting wrong way drivers, State Police respond swiftly as we fully recognize the imminent danger involved," police wrote in a news release. "In general, contributing factors that lead to wrong way drivers are not limited to those who are impaired, they can also involve those experiencing mental crisis, disoriented drivers who may be experiencing the effects of illness, and even severe weather conditions that can limit visibility.

"Wrong way drivers are often identified by Troopers who encounter them on patrol traveling the highway as well as members of the public who report them through 911. We urge the public to continue to call 911 immediately when they witness these drivers on the roadway.

"Helping your loved ones manage their mental and physical health and evaluating driving capabilities to determine if maintaining an operator's license is appropriate, pulling over and calling 911 if you fall ill while driving, avoiding travel in severe weather conditions, and having a designated driver or using a share ride service are all ways that can help contribute to preventing these occurrences."