Two teens were killed and two other people were hurt when a tractor-trailer and passenger car collided Friday afternoon on Route 66 in Columbia near the Hebron town line, according to state police.
Police said it happened around 4:11 p.m. on Route 66 at the intersection of West Street. The tractor trailer, driven by 48-year-old Adollo Lopez of Hartford, was traveling east on Route 66 while a Toyota Camry, driven by 19-year-old Hannah Schmidt of Hebron, was traveling south on West Street. The tractor trailer collided with the right side of the Camry as the car entered the intersection. Both vehicles continued across the road and crashed into a utility pole on the right eastbound shoulder of Route 66.
The two passengers in the Camry, identified as 19-year-old Alana Ferrante of South Windsor and 19-year-old Ryan Meegan of Ridgefield, died at the scene. Schmidt was transported to Windham hospital by Columbia Fire/EMS, and was later transferred to Hartford Hospital via LifeStar helicopter for treatment of serious injuries. Lopez was transported to Windham Hospital with minor injuries.
Footage from the scene showed the entire back wall of the tractor-trailer is sheared off. Route 66 was closed between West Street in Columbia and Loveland Road in Hebron while police investigated.
Crews from Windham, Columbia, and Hebron all responded to the scene, along with Connecticut State Police and the Department of Transportation. Crews from Eversource and Frontier also responded to clear power lines that came down during the crash.
State police are investigating and another with information is asked to contact TFC Marsh at Troop K at (860) 465-5400.
