CT man dies after van strikes utility pole and tree before nearly colliding with house

A man was killed following a rollover crash in Wallingford Monday evening when his vehicle was traveling the wrong way before it left the road, striking a utility pole and a tree before stopping just a few feet from hitting a house, police said.

Officers received reports around 6:45 p.m. of a white 2007 Ford Econoline van driving east on the westbound side of Church Street, near the intersection of Hope Hill Road, before the vehicle crashed, according to Officer Alex Torres of the Wallingford Police Department .

In a statement issued Tuesday, Torres said the van left the right side of the road and hit a pedestrian crossing sign before striking a utility pole at the intersection of Church Street and New Place Street. The collision put tension on the wires which led to a second pole snapping.

The van then continued onto the property of the United Methodist Church where it ran over flower beds and struck a small tree and a log, causing the vehicle to roll over onto its passenger side, Torres said.

The vehicle stopped about two feet away from hitting a home on Church Street, according to Torres.

The driver, identified as 65-year-old Michael Beauvais of Wallingford, was taken to MidState Medical Center in Meriden, where he was pronounced dead, Torres said.

The preliminary investigation suggested Beauvais was not wearing a seatbelt, according to Torres.

Members of the police department’s Traffic Division responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.

Police are still investigating and asking anyone with information to contact Officer Christian Evans at 203-294-2819.