Fatal Crash Closes Section of I-91 in Rocky Hill

ROCKY HILL, CT — A serious crash claimed the life of a motorist, sent a toddler to an area hospital with serious injuries and closed a section of Interstate-91 on Tuesday morning, state police said.

The accident took place at 9:44 a.m. on the southbound lanes about two-tenths-of-a-mile south of Exit 24. Three vehicles were involved, state police said.

According to a crash report, a 2015 Ford Transit 250 utility van driven by 42-year-old Edgar Montalvo, of Manchester, was traveling in the center lane. A 2000 Buick Park Avenue driven by Norma Roman, 42, of Hartford, was in the left lane near the van.

The report states that a 1994 Jeep Wrangler driven by Benjamin Bidwell, 60, of Middletown, was in the right lane. Also in the Jeep were 2-year-old Noah Alexander, of Middletown, who was in a rear-facing car seat, and his father, Joshua Gootkin 31, of Middletown, state police said.

The Jeep traveled into the center lane and then moved to the left again suddenly and hit both the van and the Buick, according to a report. The Jeep rolled over and both adults and the toddler were thrown from it, state police said.

Bidwell died after being taken to Hartford Hospital, according to a report. The toddler was taken to Connecticut Children's Medical Center with serious injuries and was in critical condition as of Tuesday afternoon, state police said. Gootkin suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to a report.

Montalvo was not injured and Roman was taken to St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center with "possible injuries," according to a report.

The highway was closed in the immediate area right after the crash, state police said. The left and left center lanes were re-opened at about 1:30 a.m. and all lanes were open 15 minutes later, state police said.

Photo Credit: CT DOT Traffic Cam

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