NORWICH, CT — A Brockton, Massachusetts, man was identified as the driver killed in a one-vehicle crash on Interstate 395 northbound in Norwich last week. Connecticut State Police said Jacques Bertheau, 78, suffered fatal injuries in the April 21 wreck near exit 18.
Troopers said the crash happened around 10:48 a.m. on the northbound side of the highway. The vehicle, a green 2004 Nissan Xterra, left the roadway and struck the Lawler Lane overpass before coming to rest in the middle of I-395 northbound.
How did the crash unfold on I-395?
According to police, the SUV went off the road and collided with the overpass along the right shoulder. Officials did not say what caused the vehicle to leave the roadway.
The crash scene shut down part of the highway while responders worked the incident, though the source report did not give a full timeline for reopening at this location.
What do officials say about the victim's condition?
Bertheau was taken first to William W. Backus Hospital and later transferred to Hartford Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, state police said. Authorities have not released any additional information about possible passengers or other injuries.
The identity release confirmed that the victim was a Massachusetts resident, and police linked the fatal injuries directly to the April 21 collision.
What is known about the investigation?
State police said the collision remains under investigation. At this stage, investigators have not said whether speed, distraction, weather, or a medical issue played any role in the wreck.
Anyone who witnessed the crash, or who has dashcam video or other information, is asked to contact Connecticut State Police Troop E in Montville at 800-953-7747.
Why does this crash matter beyond the immediate scene?
The case is a reminder that serious highway collisions can turn fatal even when only one vehicle is involved. Interstate 395 is a major north-south route in eastern Connecticut, and investigators often rely on witness accounts and video to reconstruct how a vehicle left the roadway.
For Bertheau’s family and the Brockton community, the identification answers the central question of who died in the crash, while leaving the cause for authorities to determine.
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