2 Dead After Wrong-Way Crash on Route 8 in Shelton

Two people are dead after a wrong-way crash on Route 8 in Shelton.

Police said Fernando J. Moreno-Rivas, 30, of Stratford, and Kelly M. Wootten, 29, of Seymour, crashed on Route 8 South near the exit 13 off-ramp. The crash was reported at 1:11 a.m. and both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene.

According to a news release from state police, Wootten was going north on the southbound side of the road.

Family members said Moreno-Rivas was a U.S. Army medic on his way from from his military base in upstate New York when the crash happened. 

"Fernando was very positive. He had an amazing outlook on life and was always ready for any new adventures. He loved his family, most of all his mother Loli and his daughter Arianna," a statement from the family says. "He was a great friend, always there when you needed him and willing to give the shirt off his back to anyone. He served for one year in Afghanistan as a combat medic and currently was still on active duty. Our family will never be the same without him."

State police shut down the southbound side of Route 8 between exits 15 and 13, but they have reopened the road.

“Not a month goes by where you don’t see something horrible happen on route 8 and that’s why it needs to be addressed," State Representative Jason Perillo said.

An accident reconstruction team is on scene trying to determine the cause of the crash.

(Trooper Kelly Grant/Connecticut State Police)
08:40 That’s going to take a little bit of time because unfortunately the two people involved in the accident are deceased//09:00 They’re going to look at all those factors: Alcohol, drugs, medical, a reaction to medication, difficult street signs. 

"That’s going to take a little bit of time because, unfortunately, the two people involved in the accident are deceased," Trooper Kelly Grant, of Connecticut State Police, said and investigators will be looking into any possible contributing factors. 

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