Vernon Police Provide Details About Serious Crash

VERNON, CT — Police have released the names of the persons involved in a horrific crash on Route 83 and Merline Road Thursday evening.

Around 7:17 p.m., police, fire and EMS personnel responded to a crash involving a Jeep Wrangler and a motorcycle. The motorcycle operator, Ryan Shaw, 26, of Vernon, was transported by ambulance to St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center in Hartford, where he is in critical but stable condition in the intensive care unit. His passenger, Brittany Cote, 26, of Vernon, was airlifted by LifeStar to Hartford Hospital, where she is in stable condition in the intensive care unit, Lt. William Meier said.

The operator of the Wrangler, Toni Marchese, 18, of Tolland, was treated for minor injuries at Rockville General Hospital. She is cooperating with the investigation, Meier said.

A section of the busy thoroughfare was closed for more than two hours while an investigation took place.

The crash remains under investigation by Vernon accident reconstructionists, with assistance from the Metro Traffic Services Reconstruction Team. No charges have been filed at this time, Meier said.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the Vernon Police Department at 860-872-9126.