Witnesses Sought In Southington Truck Collision On I-84

SOUTHINGTON, CT — State police are investigating a serious crash between a propane truck and a tractor trailer on Interstate 84 in Southington Wednesday that tied up traffic for much of the day.

The accident seriously injured a Wolcott man, identified by state police as Joseph Richard Layden, 61, of Jenny Lane, Wolcott.

Connecticut state police released an accident report early Thursday afternoon detailing what happened during the crash, which was at about 9:58 a.m. Wednesday on I-84 east in Southington.

According to the accident report, Layden was driving an Osterman Propane truck on I-84 east just west of Exit 30 in the center lane of three lanes.

"For and unknown reason," police said the driver of the propane truck lost control of the vehicle, traveled across the right lane, across the right shoulder, entered the theoretical gore, crossed the Southington Rest Area offramp and then collided with a tractor trailer parked in the offramp's right shoulder.

The tractor trailer, a 2016 Kenworth model, was being operated by a 47-year-old Texas man and it belonged to Kenneth Fox Supply Co. out of McAllen, Texas.

While the driver of the tractor trailer reported no injuries in the collision, Layden suffered "serious injuries" and was transported to Saint Mary's Hospital in Waterbury.

Both trucks were towed from the scene and the rest area and two lanes of traffic on I-84 were closed for much of the day Wednesday.

The crash is still under investigation and any witness, especially those who may have captured the vehicles on their dashbord camera, is asked to contact state Trooper Michael Dean at Troop H in Hartford at 860-534-1098 or via email at michael.dean@ct.gov.

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

From May 23: 'Tractor Trailer Wreck Closes Part Of Southington Highway: Update'