Maryland Trucker Died from Crash Impact
Autopsy showed signs of coronary artery disease
By LEANNE GENDREAU
Updated 3:27 PM EST, Wed, Jul 22, 2009
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A 68-year-old truck driver from Maryland was killed Wednesday morning when three trucks crashed on Interstate 95 North in Milford. He died of blunt force trauma and atherosclerosis was a contributing factor, according to the medical examiner.
The crash that killed Woodrow Phelps Jr. happened around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday near exit 34, in an area where traffic was slowing because of a diversion set up for construction.
Phelps was driving a truck carrying washing machines and dryers when he hit the back of a tractor-trailer, causing a chain reaction involving a car carrier and three cars, according to police and people at the scene.
He died at the scene.
Several people, passengers and drivers were taken to hospitals with non-life threatening injuries. The highway was closed for about eight hours as police investigated.
The impact of the crash itself killed Phelps, the report said. Results of toxicology tests will not be available for eight to 10 weeks, the medical examiner's spokesman said.
An autopsy revealed evidence of coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis, according to the report.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC Connecticut
First Published: May 13, 2009 5:57 AM EST
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