A 14-year-old has died and three other teens remain in the hospital after an SUV left the road in Groton early Monday and struck a tree.
Emergency crews learned of the crash on Fishtown Road just after 1:20 a.m. when an iPhone belonging to one of the victims alerted authorities through its crash detection feature, according to Louis J. Fusaro Jr., chief of the Town of Groton Police Department.
Fusaro said authorities also received several 911 calls about the crash, which was reported near Little Gull Lane.
First responders found that four teens were trapped in a 2012 Toyota 4Runner in a wooded area, according to Fusaro. The vehicle had left the road and struck a tree.
All four teens were taken in critical condition to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital after being extricated from the vehicle.
Fusaro on Tuesday said a 14-year-old who was in the vehicle later died. He was identified as Carson Wilson of Groton.
The three other victims, who are all 17, remained in the hospital as of Tuesday, according to Fusaro. They are all Groton residents, including one from the Mystic section of town.
“This terrible incident will undoubtedly have a significant and lasting impact not only to Groton and Mystic, but it extends to surrounding communities through multiple connections,” Fusaro said in a statement.
“Our department extends its heartfelt sympathies and prayers to the families impacted by this horrible tragedy and we remain committed to conducting a thorough, impartial, and exhaustive investigation into the circumstances that led up to this crash.”
The response to the crash included members of the Mystic Fire Department, Old Mystic Fire Department Heavy Rescue, Noank Fire Department, Groton Ambulance Association, Mystic River Ambulance, North Stonington Ambulance, Lawrence + Memorial paramedics and Mohegan Tribe paramedics.
The Groton Police Criminal Investigation Division and the Southeastern Connecticut Regional Traffic Unit also responded to investigate the crash. The traffic unit includes officers from the Town of Groton, Stonington and Ledyard police departments.
According to a preliminary investigation, the driver of the Toyota was headed north on Fishtown Road, just south of the Mystic River Magnet School, when the vehicle went across the southbound lane and left the road before striking a tree. The crash is still being investigated.
Any witnesses or individuals with information have been asked to call the Groton Police Department at 860-441-6712.
