Wrong-way crash kills Auburn man, Conn. woman in 2 different vehicles Saturday night in Webster
WEBSTER — A wrong-way driver and another motorist were killed in a crash on Interstate 395 Saturday night, authorities said.
State police Monday identified the two motorists who died in the crash: Jordan Pimentel, 31, of Auburn, and Kayla Morey, 35, of Dayville, Connecticut. Morey was a school teacher in Putnam.
The crash happened in the southbound lanes about 10:15 p.m.
According to state police, the preliminary investigation indicates Pimentel, at the wheel of a GMC Sierra pickup, was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes when his truck collided head-on with a Honda CRV driven by Morey.
Both drivers were declared dead at the scene, state police said.
The southbound lanes were closed for about five hours while authorities investigated. The investigation by state police is ongoing.
In Putnam, members of the school district are mourning the death of a colleague. Morey was a fourth grade teacher at Putnam Elementary School.
"Miss Morey was a gifted and talented teacher who deeply cared for her students," district Superintendent Steven Rioux said in a message to the community.
Obituary Kayla Morey Obituary
Authorities did not detail where the wrong-way driver entered the highway. The crash occurred near Exit 3. At Exit 1 on I-395, the ramps include a wrong-way warning system, part of an earlier pilot program by the state Department of Transportation. If a vehicle is going the wrong way on a ramp, flashing lights are activated and state police are notified.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Wrong-way crash kills Auburn man, Conn. woman Sat. night in Webster
