Teen Killed in Fiery Crash on I-84 at Exit 23 in Waterbury

A 19-year-old Naugatuck Valley Community College student from Beacon Falls was killed in a fiery five-vehicle crash on Interstate 84 eastbound in Waterbury on Wednesday night.

Casey Lynne Giannone was a passenger in a car that caught fire during the crash and died from the injuries, police said.

Giannone was a second-year digital arts technology major at Naugatuck Valley Community College and the school is offering counseling for students and staff.

"This is a day of mourning for the NVCC family," Naugatuck Valley Community College President Daisy Cocco De Filippis said in a news release. "We extend our heartfelt sympathy to Casey’s family and friends.  Please hold her and the NVCC family in your thoughts and prayers."

Five vehicles, including a tractor-trailer, were involved in the crash and state police said on Wednesday that icy conditions from a water main break earlier in the night caused the crash.

On Thursday, however, Waterbury police said those reports were inaccurate and there were no reports of icy conditions at the scene.

The earlier water break over Interstate 84 occurred on the eastbound lane of the Harpers Ferry Road bridge, around one mile east ahead of the crash scene, police said.

The crash started when one vehicle crashed into another, which rear-ended a third vehicle, according to state police.

The first vehicle then struck the car Alex Milosevic, 18, of Bristol and Giannone were in and a  fire started, according to a news release from police.

Milosevic suffered what are believed to be serious injuries, according to state police, and he was transported to Saint Mary's Hospital, police said.

State police initially estimated that it would take two hours to clean up the scene, but the highway was closed for seven and a half hours and opened around 5 a.m.  on Thursday.

The water main break has been fixed and police are investigating.

Contact Us