Support Pours In For Family Of Man Killed In Fiery Crash On Gold Star Bridge

STONINGTON, CT — The community is rallying around the family of a Stonington man who was killed in a fiery two-vehicle crash on the Gold Star Memorial Bridge on Friday.

Wallace Joseph Fauquet III, 42, was transporting home heating oil on I-95 South in Groton when a Toyota Avalon had a tire blow out, causing it to swerve in front of the tanker. The Kenworth T300 tanker collided with the rear of the Toyota, rolled over and became engulfed in flames, according to Connecticut State Police.

Fauquet was killed in the incident, and the two occupants of the Toyota were hospitalized with minor injuries, police said.

Fauquet was described as a “doting, devoted, and loving husband” and father of four in a GoFundMe campaign that was launched to help the family with funeral expenses and other costs.

The GoFundMe campaign was created Desiree Mills, Fauquet’s sister-in-law.

“He was a doting, devoted, and loving husband to his wife Elaine, his soulmate,” Mills wrote in the post on GoFundMe. “His kids were everything to him and he worked hard to provide for them.”

More than $140,000 has been raised within the first two days of the campaign.

“Wally was a hard-working, caring, charismatic, family man,” Mills wrote. “He truly made the world a better place and helped everyone. He would have done anything for anyone. His family is devastated by his loss. If you can't donate, please share or leave a kind message or memory of Wally for my sister and his kids to read. Thank you so much.”

For more information, visit the GoFundMe page here.