WESTBROOK, Conn. (TowingTimes) — Two people lost their lives Friday after separate crashes forced the closure of I-95 in Westbrook for nearly seven hours.
The first deadly crash happened early in the day when a truck carrying plywood overturned. Nicholas John Kupec, 39, of Waterford, was identified as the victim. The impact scattered sheets of plywood across the highway and triggered a chain reaction crash involving four additional vehicles. Several cars struck guardrails, and police later confirmed the collision caused structural damage to the Route 145 bridge that spans the interstate.
Josh Morgan, spokesperson for the Connecticut Department of Transportation, said crews placed concrete barriers along both shoulders of I-95 to protect the damaged bridge. “We will keep the shoulders closed to allow safe access for emergency repair work,” Morgan explained. An emergency declaration has already been made to begin repairs, possibly as soon as this weekend.
Roughly two hours after that incident, another crash occurred a few miles south between Exits 64 and 63. This time, police said an 18-wheeler collided with a tractor-trailer, killing 22-year-old Isabella Rose Butzgy of Oakdale.
The back-to-back tragedies brought traffic to a halt and filled the air with sirens throughout the morning. Dan Frame, who owns Kiwi Roots Farm near the interstate, described the chaotic scene. “Constant sirens, cars turning around and tooting at each other. It’s been a bit of a wild morning,” he said.
By late afternoon, several lanes in both directions had reopened, though cleanup and repair work are expected to continue in the days ahead.
