Griswold man charged in 2023 fatal motor vehicle crash. Where the case stands
A Griswold man has been charged in an October 2023 fatal motor vehicle accident in Pomfret.
On the night of Oct. 9, 2023, Connecticut State Police found Ian Gillis’ car at the bottom of a gulley in the area of Pomfret Street in Pomfret. Gillis, the operator of the vehicle, suffered suspected serious injuries and was transported via Life Flight to UMass Memorial Medical Center.
The front passenger in Gillis’ car suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by State Police. The identity of Gillis’ passenger has not been released.
An autopsy of Gillis’ passenger was performed by Dr. Frank Evangelista at the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. According to the autopsy report, the cause of death was found to be blunt impact injury to the head and the manner of death was the accident.
The State Police’s report states that Gillis’ car hit the guardrail on Pomfret Street before hitting a tree and coming to a final rest at the bottom of a gulley.
State Police estimated that Gillis, 35, was driving approximately 70 mph prior to the accident, double the posted speed limit of 35 mph. Three beer cans were found in his car and Gillis admitted to State Police that he had been drinking the evening of the accident.
State Police did not file Gillis' arrest warrant until June 17 following an extensive investigation.
"The reason being is that this was a fatal motor vehicle accident investigation," the Connecticut State Police Media Relations Unit said in regards to Gillis' case. "These take time to work through, especially under the circumstances where a person is to be charged criminally. There were several working components to this case, which included an out-of-state grand jury in terms of obtaining the accused's medical records."
Gillis turned himself in to State Police Troop D in Danielson on June 19. He was taken into custody on an active arrest warrant and processed for the charges of manslaughter in the second degree with a motor vehicle, illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol/drugs, reckless driving and failure to drive upon the right side of the roadway. Gillis was later released on a $125,000 bond.
Gillis was arraigned in Danielson Superior Court on Monday, and is due back in court on Aug. 23.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Griswold CT man charged in fatal motor vehicle accident in Pomfret
