A 3-year-old Meriden boy was killed in a four-vehicle crash on Interstate 95 southbound in Waterford just before 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Traffic was backed up due to previous crashes when a tractor-trailer owned by Gold Medal Bakery, of Fall River, Massachusetts, rear ended a Nissan Sentra driven by 25-year-old Baughnita Leary, of Meriden.
Leary was slowing for stopped traffic ahead of her near exit 81, according to state police.
The impact killed Leary's son, 3-year-old Dacari Robinson. The boy was pronounced dead at the scene.
Leary's 9-year-old daughter, Sanaa Reynolds, and boyfriend, 26-year-old Darin Robinson, were critically injured in the crash. Along with Leary, they were taken to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital and transferred to Yale-New Haven Hospital.
Leary remains hospitalized at Yale-New Haven Hospital for treatment of serious but non-life threatening injuries.
After rear ending Leary's car, the tractor-trailer, driven by 58-year-old Gerard Dube, of Massachusetts, continued on an struck two additional cars driven by 21-year-old Peter Driscoll, and 26-year-old Steven Loiler, 26, of Oakdale, according to state police.
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Driscoll was treated for a lump on his head and Loiler was treated for neck and back injuries. Driscoll's passenger, 21-year-old Bradley Brown, of New London, suffered a possible broken right arm. All three were taken to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Dube was not not injured but was "shaken up" and was taken to L+M Hospital for an evaluation.
Police are investigating the crash. No charges have been filed.
Editor's Note: Sanaa Reynolds and Darin Robinson were pronounced dead in the days following the crash.
