Norwalk Cop Charged In Fatal Southington Crash: Police

SOUTHINGTON, CT — State police have charged a 48-year-old Norwalk police sergeant in connection with a fatal collision on Interstate 84 back in April 2023.

According to Connecticut State Police, Shannon James Sherry, 48, of Fairfield, was charged with failure to drive in the proper lane and misconduct with a motor vehicle.

Sherry, police said, turned himself in at Connecticut State Police at Troop H in Hartford on Thursday, Feb. 15.

He was released on a $25,000 bond and is expected to appear in New Britain Superior Court on March 5, police said.

On April 19, 2023, police said Sherry was driving a 2023 Model 3 Tesla on I-84 East in the left lane of three near Exit 30.

That's when, police said in an accident report, the Tesla veered across the center lane and into the right lane, where it collided with a Ford F250 pickup truck.

This caused the truck to lose control and it crossed the center lane, into the left lane, and then a grassy median, where it began to roll over.

The truck then slammed into a metal beam guardrail on I-84 West, where it came to rest.

Killed in the accident was Elijah Joseph Vallier, 24, of Farmington Avenue, New Britain. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sherry was able to pull the Tesla over after the collision and wasn't injured in the crash.

Norwalk Police Chief James Walsh said in a statement Thursday that Sherry is on administrative leave while the department conducts an internal investigation into the crash and charges.

From April 20, 2023: 'Man Dead After Southington Crash, State Police Seek Public's Help'