Driver Charged In I-84 Racing Crash, More Arrests Pending: Warrant

TOLLAND, CT — A teen driver has been charged in connection with a summertime racing-related incident on Interstate 84 that ended with a multi-car crash in Tolland. More arrests are likely, state police said

The teen, an 18-year-old from Manchester, was arrested at his home on Sunday via a warrant and charged with reckless driving, illegal racing on a highway and second-degree reckless endangerment.

The case unraveled at 9:48 p.m. on July 1, when state police received multiple 911 calls about a three-car crash (a fourth vehicle was also involved) on the eastbound side of Interstate 84, just prior to Exit 69. One of the callers was the teen in question, who was noticeably shaken when reporting the crash involving "friends," according to a warrant.

When they arrived at the scene, troopers discovered debris scattered on the road, and all three vehicles involved in the crash were "completely totaled," with one sitting on its roof on the center median, a second all smashed up in the center median and a third wrecked in the center lane, according to a warrant.

The four drivers involved — two 18-year-olds and two 20-year-olds — were inconsistent with their accounts of how fast they were going, according to a warrant.

Police said interviews with the four could not produce "a logical explanation" as to what happened, according to a warrant. They maintained they were traveling at between 70 and 75 mph, according to a warrant.

A reconstruction team, however, placed their speeds at well beyond 90 mph and possibly even greater than 100 mph, according to a warrant. The crash caused a lengthy highway closure, state police said.

"Not only was their reckless operation dangerous to the surrounding public, but contributed to a significant disruption of highway commerce and travel," investigators said in a warrant.

State police said to expect warrants to be processed for all involved.