1 Killed, 4 Seriously Injured In Wrong-Way Head-On Crash In Orange: Police

ORANGE, CT — One person was killed, and four others seriously injured in a wrong-way crash, police said.

At 1:33 a.m. Sunday, police were notified of a wrong-way driver on Route 34 near the Merritt Parkway interchange, police said.

The witness called to report that a dark-colored Honda Civic was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of the divided roadway, police said.

While on the phone, the caller reported that the Honda had been involved in a head-on crash with a BMW SUV near the intersection with Baldwin Road, police said. The witness remained on scene and is assisting with the investigation.

The driver and sole occupant of the 2022 Honda Civic had to be extricated from the car with the assistance of the Orange Volunteer Fire Department and was transported to Yale New Haven Hospital, where he died of his injuries, police said. He is not being identified at this time pending family notifications.

The second vehicle, a 2024 BMW X1, contained four occupants who were all transported to Yale with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries, police added.

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The eastbound side of Derby Avenue was closed for about three hours while investigators processed the crash scene, but all lanes were reopened by 5 am.

This investigation is ongoing, and any witnesses are asked to contact Detective Denny Peterson at dpeterson@orange-ct.gov or by phone at 203-891-2130, ext. 8216.