Southington Man, Two Bristol Men in Critical Condition

Three people remain in critical condition at area hospitals following a morning crash along West Street that closed the road for nearly five hours.

Bristol residents Brian Green, 41, and Tommy Rodrigue, 42, are each in Hartford Hospital with serious injuries and are listed in critical condition, according to hospital staff. Both were alert after suffering the injuries when they were involved in a four-vehicle crash near .

Jason Williams, 24, a Delahunty Drive resident, is also listed in critical condition at St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, police said, although hospital staff was unable to verify and declined comment.

The morning accident caused heavy damage to several vehicles and left the three residents with serious injuries. All three were extricated from their vehicles, according to Fire Capt. Mark Saucier. Rodrigue was alert but severely injured and was taken from the scene by Lifestar Medical Helicopter.

“In 31 years on the job, this is the first time I can recall seeing three extrications at the same time," Saucier said.

Police said the accident occurred just before 7 a.m. as Williams was traveling south along West Street in his Honda Civic. He swerved after passing a Volkswagen Passat driven by Avon resident Thomas Shea, 41, and lost control after passing Shea on the left, police said.

Shea had been slowing to turn right into Winterberry Gardens at the time of the accident and his car was not involved, police said.

Williams’ vehicle skidded into the northbound lanes and struck a 1999 International tractor-trailer driven by Maine resident Mark Reed, the police report said.

Green had been traveling behind Williams in a Chevy Silverado and also crossed into the northbound lanes as the accident occurred in front of him, Southington Police Sgt. Lowell DePalma said in a press release. His truck collided head-on with a Ford F250 driven by Rodrique. Both were unable to leave the trucks on their own following the accident, police said.

The crash is still under investigation by the Southington Accident Investigation Team.  Witnesses are asked to contact Officer Jason Plourde with the Southington Police Department at (860) 621-0101.