1 Person Killed In Fiery Crash, Police Vehicle Struck In Separate Incident In Stamford: State Police

STAMFORD, CT — One person was killed in a fiery crash Tuesday night on the Merritt Parkway, and a police cruiser was subsequently struck and also caught fire in a separate incident a short time later, Connecticut State Police said.

On Tuesday at approximately 10:12 p.m., troopers from Troop G responded to a single-vehicle crash in the area of Exit 13 northbound in New Canaan, state police told Patch, citing preliminary reports.

The vehicle, a 2011 Honda Accord, left the lanes of travel for an unknown reason and collided with a tree adjacent to the right shoulder, state police said in an accident summary report Wednesday afternoon.

The vehicle "became fully engulfed in flames," state police said.

An unidentified female passenger was pronounced dead at the scene by Stamford EMS, state police said. A next of kin notification will be made upon confirmation of the female's identity, according to state police.

The driver of the vehicle, a 64-year-old man, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Norwalk Hospital for treatment.

The CT State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Squad responded to the scene to assist.

Those who may have witnessed the collision are being asked to contact Trooper Falstoe No. 849 at 203-696-2500 or through email at nicolas.falstoe@ct.gov.

At approximately 11:50 p.m., a state police cruiser with its emergency lights activated was parked blocking the Merritt northbound in the area of Exit 10 in Stamford due to the previous crash when another vehicle collided into the cruiser, state police said.

"The cruiser became engulfed in flames. The Trooper was not in the vehicle at the time of the collision," state police said.

The other operator was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.

State police said further information is not available for release at this time.

The crashes closed the northbound lanes of the Merritt for several hours into Wednesday morning, but the roadway has reopened.