Manchester, CT
Friends and acquaintances gather Saturday afternoon
Jordan Otero Sisson and Jesse Leavenworth
A Manchester High School student and two former students were killed in a one-car crash early Saturday on Center Street, police and school officials said.
Police did not identify the victims or reveal their ages. Two survivors were taken to Connecticut Children's Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.
Police said they responded to the crash at 1:21 a.m. and found the car, which had hit a utility pole, engulfed in flames. The crash occurred in front of 600 Center St., which is R&R Plumbing & Supply Inc.
Several police officers tried to douse the fire with fire extinguishers from their patrol cars, but the fire was too intense and the small extinguishers "had no effect," Manchester police Sgt. Stephen Bresciano said. Firefighters finally put out the flames, he said.
Bresciano, the traffic supervisor for Manchester police, said excessive speed played a role in the crash, but it's too early to tell whether alcohol or drugs were factors. The point of impact was the rear door on the driver's side, he said.
The three passengers in the rear seat of the sedan were killed, said police Capt. Christopher Davis. He said police are working with the medical examiner's office to identify the dead.
"Obviously, this is an incredible tragedy," Davis said.
Three people died and two were injured after a fiery crash in Manchester early Saturday morning.
By Saturday afternoon, teens and adults had gathered at the crash scene, consoling each other. They made a makeshift memorial — a golden and silver crucifix surrounded by white candles and bouquets of roses — at the base of a slightly charred utility pole.
About 20 people — mostly young men — gathered around the site. Some knelt before the pole, fingertips pressed to their lips in silent contemplation. Others embraced each other, their eyes visibly wet with tears.
Others gathered around the periphery of the site, speculating on the details of what transpired.
Town and school officials said they were deeply saddened by the crash, which happened on the day of the school's prom.
Manchester Superintendent of Schools Matt Geary informed the school community in an email. He said a crisis team was at the high school during the day Saturday.
Geary noted that the school's prom is Saturday night.
"We are also adding staff to tonight's prom to be sure that we are supporting all students," he wrote.
Manchester High Principal Jill Krieger said the school will have counseling staff available for students next week also.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with all involved," she said in a note to parents.
Center Street, or Route 44, is a busy road in Manchester, lined with many restaurants, package stores, auto repair shops and homes. The road curves where it intersects with Olcott Street, straightening out where R&R Plumbing sits.
Darwin's Theory of Evolution is at play here. Speed kills; the ones who fail to recognize it, reach their final destination at an early time.
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Manchester, CT
Three teenagers were killed and others were injured in a fiery crash on Center Street in Manchester early Saturday morning.
The car hit a utility pole and burst into flames around 1:20 a.m., according to Manchester police. The crash happened in front of R&R Plumbing at 600 Center Street.
Two people who were sitting in the front of the car escaped the fire, but the three passengers in the back seat did not, police said.
The two survivors were taken to Connecticut Children's Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.
Police believe all who were in the car are in their late teens. Though the names have not been released, Manchester Public School Superintendent Matthew Geary sent a letter to families identifying one of the deceased victims as a current student, and the other two as former students of the district.
Evan Blaschik, a Manchester High School senior who knew one of the victims, said he expected a lot of people to be affected by the news.
“It’s just crazy that one day you like see them walking through the hallways and then you hear about this the next day,” he said.
“A senior feels like they’re invincible but we’re not.”
Justin Miller, also a senior, said that those involved were well-liked by classmates.
“Make sure you say I love you to all the people you love and all that because you never know the last time you’re going to see them,” he said.
The schools are offering support staff at Manchester High School until 3 p.m. Saturday. The district will also have extra support staff at prom, which is scheduled for Saturday night.
Police said they are looking at speed as a possible factor in the crash.
Darwin's Theory of Evolution is at play here. Speed kills; the ones who fail to recognize it, reach their final destination at an early time.