Negligent Homicide Charge Filed In 2023 Willington Head-On Crash

WILLINGTON, CT — A teen from Stafford has been charged with negligent homicide with a motor vehicle in connection with a crash that took place nearly a year ago in Willington, a warrant indicates.

The two-vehicle crash claimed the life of A 55-year-old Massachusetts man and the teen, who was 18 at the time, was served a warrant last week, records show. He posted a $50,000 bond and is expected in Rockville Superior Court on Nov. 25, an arrest reports shows. He has also been charged with traveling unreasonably fast and failure to drive in the proper lane, records show.
According to a warrant, the crash took place at 4:29 a.m. on Nov. 28, 2023, according to state police.

According to a warrant and crash report, a 2008 Cadillac CTS being driven by Clifton Graves of Monson, MA, was headed south on River Road near Plains Road and a 2018 Chevrolet Equinox with Dominic Ledbetter behind the wheel was headed north. The Equinox crossed over the double yellow center line and struck the Cadillac head-on, according to a crash report.

State police said in a warrant that Graves was transported to Hartford Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Ledbetter was taken to St Francis Hospital and Medical Center with injuries that included severe stomach pain, according to a warrant.

Cell phone use was ruled out, according to a warrant, but the vehicles were traveling between 52 and 57 mph at the time of the crash, according to a warrant.