STRATFORD, CT — Police are investigating a fiery crash on the Merritt Parkway that left three people dead Sunday morning on Route 15 South in Stratford. Officials say the collision set off a chain reaction in the right lane near Exit 36 and ended with a vehicle fire.
State police said the driver of a Lexus struck the back of a Honda Civic, which then hit a Chrysler 200 ahead of it. The crash remains under investigation, and authorities are still looking for the Lexus driver, who fled the scene.
What did investigators say happened on Route 15 South?
A preliminary investigation shows the Chrysler 200 and Honda Civic were traveling in the right lane when the Lexus ES350 hit the Honda from behind. That impact pushed the Honda into the rear of the Chrysler, creating the multi-car collision.
Officials said the crash ignited a fire after the sequence of impacts. The scene was on the Merritt Parkway in the area of Exit 36, a stretch of Route 15 that carries heavy traffic through Stratford.
Who was killed in the collision?
Police said the Honda’s driver died in the crash, along with two passengers who were inside that vehicle. Authorities have not released names in the information provided so far.
No other injuries were detailed in the report. The fatal crash has become a hit-and-run investigation because the Lexus driver left the scene before officers arrived.
What are police saying about the Lexus driver?
Investigators said they are searching for the driver of the 2014 Lexus ES350. As of the latest update, no arrests have been made.
Police asked witnesses to contact Trooper Smith at 203-696-2500 or by email at drew.smith2@ct.gov. Officials said any account of the collision could help clarify how the crash unfolded and who was behind the wheel of the Lexus.
What happens next in the investigation?
The crash remains under active investigation, with police continuing to review the circumstances that led to the three deaths. The fire, the chain-reaction impact and the driver’s departure from the scene are central questions for detectives.
For now, authorities have released only a preliminary account and are relying on potential witnesses to fill in the moments before and after the collision. The location on the Merritt Parkway also suggests investigators will examine traffic and roadway conditions at the time.
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