Man Dead After Southington Crash, State Police Seek Public's Help

SOUTHINGTON, CT — State police are looking for the public's help as they investigate a serious rollover crash in Southington Wednesday that claimed the life of a New Britain man.

Police Thursday released the accident report on the crash, which occurred in Interstate 84 east in Southington at about 4:25 p.m. Wednesday.

Killed in the accident was Elijah Joseph Vallier, 24, of Farmington Avenue, New Britain, according to police.

Vallier was driving a 2003 Ford F250 pickup truck that rolled over in the grassy median of the highway, according to police.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the accident report.

According to the accident summary, Vallier was traveling east on I-84 in the right lane of three, not far from Exit 30.

Meanwhile, a 2023 Model 3 Tesla being driven by a 47-year-old Fairfield man was traveling east on I-84 in the left lane of three lanes, police said.

"For an unknown reason," according to police, the Tesla veered across the center lane and into the right lane, where it collided with the Ford pickup.

As a result of the collision, Vallier lost control of the Ford F250 and crossed the center lane into the left lane and, then, onto the grassy median, where it began to roll over, police said.

The pickup then, according to police, slamed into a metal beam guardrail in the left shoulder of I-84 west, where it came to a rest.

The Tesla ended up in the right shoulder of I-84 east after the driver was able to bring the vehicle to a controlled rest.

Police said the driver of the pickup, the lone occupant, suffered "serious injuries" and was pronounced dead at the scene. No one was hurt in the Tesla, which also had a passenger, police said.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

Police are, especially, looking for dashcam footage of motorists driving in that area at the time or witness testimony from those who were driving through at that time.

Any witness to the collision is asked to contact Trooper Michael Dean at Troop H in Hartford at 860-534-1098 or through email at michael.dean@ct.gov.

For the Connecticut State Police news page, click on this link.

From April 19: 'Crash Shuts Down Highway For Hours In Southington: Update'