One Killed in Crash on Route 66 in Portland

One person was killed in a fiery crash on Route 66 near Cobalt Road in Portland.

Police said a GMC pickup was traveling east on Route 66 when it hit a rock embankment on the westbound shoulder in the area known as the ledges at 1:50 a.m.

It was on fire when emergency crews arrived and the driver died at the scene.

Police said a mechanical failure could have been reponsible for the crash.

Police said they do not yet know who the driver is and the medical examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

The state fire marshal’s office is assisting Portland emergency departments.

The road was closed for hours this morning and traffic stretched for miles. 

Elwin Guild, who lives near the scene of the crash, said the area is narrow and notorious for its blind curves.

"This is probably the most dangerous piece of road in the state of Connecticut," he said.

"It was quite a feat to chisel through all that stone to create a highway, but when it's closed, we go back to where we started 200 years ago," Guild said.

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