Stratford Woman Injured in Fatal Accident on I-95 in Branford

A Massachusetts woman was killed in an early Sunday morning crash on I-95 South in Branford that also sent five people to the hospital.

NBC Connecticut reports that Mary E. Chiapulis, 55, of Boylston, Massachusetts, died at Yale-New Haven Hospital from injuries sustained in the four-car crash.

NBC reports that Chiapulis was driving the wrong way near the Branford Service Plaza between Exits 53 and 54 and her car struck another car driven by Franck Dalembert, 54, of Norwalk (Stratford’s Dionne McCarthy, 47, was a passenger in Dalembert’s car).

A car driven by Milford’s Daniel Rizzo, 30, was then hit head on by Chiapulis’ car and Patsy Depalmer, 50, of Woodbridge, swerved to avoid the collision between Chiapulis and Rizzo, but Chiapulis spun toward the right lane and hit the front left corner of Depalmer’s Jeep, according to NBC.

Ansonia’s Anthony C. Lazzara, 28, and Michael A. Hough, 22, were passengers in Rizzo’s car and were among the injured, according to NBC.

Branford Firefighters responded the scene at 12:45 a.m. this morning, according to their Facebook page.

“When we arrived, we were faced with multiple patients including one in traumatic cardiac arrest as well as others with what appeared to be life threatening injuries” according to Branford Fire Department Deputy Chief William Pepe.

“One of the patients needed to be extricated from their vehicle using the Jaws of Life. Due to the resources required and the number of patients we needed to treat, we requested East Haven Fire Department for mutual aid,” added Pepe.

Branford Fire Department ambulances transported three patients and ambulances from Guilford Fire Department and American Medical Response transported the three additional patients to New Haven area hospitals.

I-95 southbound remained closed for approximately 3 hours while Connecticut State Police conducted their investigation.

Read more at NBC Connecticut here.

Photo via Branford Fire Department Facebook page