Danbury Woman Killed In Wrong-Way Crash On I-84

DANBURY, CT — A Danbury woman was killed in a wrong-way crash on Interstate 84 Sunday night.

Francisca J. Cortez-Arias, 45, of Rose Street was the passenger in a Honda Accord traveling the wrong way — westward —in the left lane of I-84 East near Exit 18 in Waterbury around 6:20 p.m. The driver of a BMW 528i, travelling eastward in the same lane, swerved to avoid the head-on collision, according to State Police, but could not avoid sideswiping the Honda. The impact re-directed the Honda into the right lane, where it struck a Chevy Tahoe head-on.

Cortez-Arias was taken to St. Mary's Hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. The driver of the Honda was taken to Waterbury Hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to police.

The driver and both passengers in the BMW were uninjured. The driver and passenger in the Chevy were taken to St. Mary's Hospital and Waterbury Hospital, respectively, both with minor injuries.

Troop A is urging anyone with dash-cam footage, or more information, of the collision to contact Trooper Magloire #964 at 203-267-2200 or Clifford.Magloire@ct.gov.

The case remains under investigation.