2 Killed In Separate Crashes That Shut Down I-95 In Westbrook: State Police

WESTBROOK, CT — Two people were killed in separate crashes that shut down parts of I-95 in Westbrook for several hours on Friday morning, according to Connecticut State Police.

Police said the first crash happened around 7:40 a.m. near Exit 64 on I-95 North, where a truck towing a trailer carrying plywood boards lost its load.

The load of plywood spilled over onto the southbound lanes and caused a chain reaction crash between four other vehicles, according to police.

Police said the vehicles all lost control and crashed into each other, the metal beam guardrail in the right shoulder, and the concrete barrier in the median.

Nicholas J. Kupec, 39, of Waterford, was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, according to police.

Three other drivers were taken to Middlesex Health Shoreline Medical Center with injuries that police said were minor.

The second crash happened around 9:25 a.m. on I-95 South near Exit 65 in Westbrook, according to police.

Police said a 2016 Isuzu NRR truck being driven by Isabella R. Butzgy rear-ended a tractor-trailer.

Butzgy, 22, of Oakdale, was pronounced dead, according to police.

Both crashes remain under investigation.

Any witnesses, or anyone with information, to the first crash is asked to contact Trooper Michael Querfeld at Michael.Querfeld@ct.gov or at 860-399-2100.

Any witnesses, or anyone with information, to the second crash is asked to contact Trooper Alex Tomasello at Alex.Tomasello@ct.gov or at 860-399-2100.

Both sides of I-95 in Westbrook and Clinton were closed for several hours, but have since reopened. Traffic was diverted off the highway to Route 1 and adjacent areas in Clinton, according to police.

The left lanes on both I-95 South and North near Exit 64 in Westbrook remained closed on Friday night due to construction.

The Route 145 overpass in Westbrook was also closed between Glenwood Road and North High Street because of structure damage.