2 Dead, 1 Injured In Stonington I-95 Crash

STONINGTON, CT — A Hamden man, who was a beloved former head football coach in East Haven and New Haven, and a Bristol man are dead after a horrific wrong-way accident last night on Interstate 95 southbound between exits 91 and 90 in Stonington. The highway was shut down for six hours.

The accident occurred at 6:15 p.m. Saturday. According to Fox 61, Larry Stallings, 32, of Bristol, was the wrong-way driver and his car crashed head-on with Melvin Wells' car. Wells, 55, of Hamden, and Stallings were both killed in the crash, and their vehicles struck another car carrying six people, according to Fox 61.

No major injuries occurred to the occupants in the third vehicle.

East Haven High School Yellowjackets said, "East Haven High School mourns the passing of former Head Football Coach, Melvin Wells. Coach Wells had a profound impact on many student-athletes during his time at EHHS. Guidance Counselors and Social Workers will be available for counseling services for students when we return to school. Counseling services will be available in the Guidance Office. Our thoughts are with the Wells' family during this very difficult time."

Story by Brian McCready, Patch National Staff