LeAnne Gendreau

Middletown Man Dead, 2-Year-Old Critically Injured After Crash on I-91 South in Rocky Hill

The area of I-91 between exits 23 and 24 has seen nearly 1,000 crashes since 2015, the fourth most of any stretch of the interstate, according to the Connecticut Transportation Safety Research Center.

A 60-year-old Middletown man has died and a 2-year-old Middletown boy is in critical condition after a rollover crash on Interstate 91 South in Rocky Hill Tuesday morning.

A Jeep Wrangler, a van and a Buick Park Avenue were involved in the crash near exit 24 at 9:44 a.m. Tuesday, according to state police.

State police said the crash occurred when the Jeep, which was traveling in the right lane, moved into the center lane and continued into the left lane, hitting a Ford Transit and the Buick that were traveling in that lane.

State police said all three people in the Jeep, including the 2-year-old, were ejected.

The driver, identified as 60-year-old Benjamin Bidwell, of Middletown, was pronounced dead at Hartford Hospital.

The 2-year-old suffered serious injuries and is being treated at Connecticut Children's Medical Center, where he is listed in critical condition, according to state police. The child's father, who was a passenger in the vehicle, suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the Buick was taken to Saint Francis Hospital to be evaluated for possible injuries. The driver of the Ford was not hurt.

The highway was closed for hours after the crash.

The area of I-91 between exits 23 and 24 has seen nearly 1,000 crashes since 2015, the fourth most of any stretch of the interstate, according to the Connecticut Transportation Safety Research Center.

The crash remains under investigation.

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