HAMPTON, Conn. (WTNH) — Connecticut State Police and the accident reconstruction team worked for hours on Route 6 in Hampton investigating a crash that has now been deemed fatal, taking the life of a 17-year-old Willimantic boy.
Around 7:34 a.m. Saturday morning, Troopers responded to a serious crash on Route 6. This report detailed that the driver had been ejected from the vehicle. EMS arrived on the scene. This crash involved “serious injuries”, according to officials.
Connecticut State Police listed the crash as fatal Sunday morning.
According to the accident report, the driver has been identified as 17-year-old Fabian Sosa-Mangual of Willimantic. He was driving a Dodge Dakota in the westbound area of 407 Hartford Turnpike when he began to veer into the eastbound lane.
As the vehicle traveled into the oncoming lane of traffic, it hit a metal beam guard rail and continued into the eastbound area. It reached the shoulder and proceeded to hit several trees. Sosa-Mangual was ejected and sustained fatal injuries.
Sosa-Mangual was an 11th-grade student at Quinebaug Middle College (QMC), which he had attended since his freshmen year, according to school officials. On Monday, QMC released a statement addressing the tragic death, offering condolences to friends and family.
“Fabian had an extremely infectious smile that lit up every room. He was very kind and helpful to both staff and students. He embodied the three core values of QMC: Inspiration, Kindness, and Respect, and was a role model to all. He had a passion and love for music and his family and friends,” wrote the QMC community in a media release.
The school also announced that it will be open on Monday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. to support students and staff who wish to talk with grief counselors regarding their feelings as they mourn a fellow student.
Police are continuing to investigate the crash, and have not named a cause for why Sosa-Mangual may have lost control of the vehicle.