Police Start Putting a Narrative Together on Thursday's I-84 Crash in Tolland

Update 10:19 a.m., Friday:

The Interstate 84 crash in Tolland that sent four people to the hospital Thursday and closed lanes on the highway for several hours started with a car first drifting to the left shoulder, the Hartford Courant reported.

The 2003 Pontiac Sunbird was on the grass of the left shoulder before it veered to the right, across the eastbound lanes of the highway, the newspaper reported.

The car crashed through a guardrail, then went  down a 30-foot embankment, with three people ejected from the vehicle before it ended up 50 feet from the highway, east of Exit 68, according to the Courant.

One occupant was able to get out of the car and climb up the embankment, said Tolland Assistant Fire Chief Doug Racicot, according to the newspaper.

State police identified the people in the car as Lynn Elgar, 41, Richard Elgar, 16, Jeffrey LaCourse, 50, and Rielly LaCourse, 22 — all from Massachusetts. All were sent to Hartford Hospital, two in Lifestar ambulance heicopters.

Update 3:39 p.m., Thursday:

At 3:30 p.m., Connecticut State Police released this statement about the crash:

On July 10 at 8:40 a.m.  Connecticut State Police Troop C received 911 reports of a serious one car motor vehicle crash on I-84 eastbound, east of exit 68. 

The vehicle, a 2003 Pontiac Sunfire traveled from the left travel lane, into the left grass shoulder before crossing all lanes moving to the right and traveling through a metal beam guardrail down an embankment where it overturned and came to rest.

Three occupants were ejected from the vehicle and sustained severe injuries.  A fourth occupant remained in the vehicle and also suffered severe injuries.

All occupants were transported to Hartford Hospital for treatment.  Passengers #3 and #4 were transported by Lifestar Medical Helicopter. Passengers #1 and #2 were transported by ground ambulances. 

Operator and all occupants are from Massachusetts and at this time names are being withheld pending notification of the family.   All are listed in critical condition at Hartford Hospitals.

The highway was fully reopened at 1:48 p.m. as troopers investigating, assisted by accident reconstruction troopers, continue the investigation into this crash.

State police are asking anyone who may have witnessed this accident to contact Trooper K. Miller #1015 at Troop C — (860) 896-3200.

The accident remains under investigation.


Update 12:56 p.m.:

Some lanes in both directions have been reopened on Interstate 84 between Exits 67 and 68 after a morning car crash down an embankment, various news organizations are reporting.

Four were injured, two critically, in the one-car accident, the Hartford Courant reports.

The middle lane and left lane of I-84 eastbound were open, according to a 12:27 p.m. report on WNTH-TV.

Update 10:45 a.m.

One or more westbound lanes of Interstate 84 is now open between Exits 67 and 68 in Tolland, according to a Hartford Courant report.

The 8:40 a.m. crash occurred when a vehicle left the highway and traveled down an embankment into woods, 50 feet from the highway and about 40 feet below it, with three of the four victims ejected from the vehicle, according to the newspaper's report.

(At this point, the Hartford Courant's coverage of the accident is the most extensive.)

Update 10:27 a.m.:

The closure of I-84 in Tolland is between Exits 67 and 68 in both directions, according to the CBS Connecticut website.

Update 10:22 a.m.:

The incident that closed Interstate 84 in both directions near Exit 68 occurred when a single vehicle rolled over and left the highway entering nearby woods, according to NBC Connecticut, which cites state troopers.

Two of the four victims were ejected from the vehicle, said state police, according to NBC Connecticut.


Update 10:11 a.m.:

Four people were injured in an accident on Interstate 84 near Exit 68 in Tolland just before 9 a.m., according to the Hartford Courant.

Lanes in both directions of Interstate 84 have been closed as both of the state's Lifestar ambulance helicopters were called to the scene and another from Massachusetts was requested, according to The Courant.

Original article:

Eastbound lanes of Interstate 84 were closed this morning after a crash that led to a Lifestar ambulance helicopter to land, according to a report by WFSB-TV.

According to the television station, which originally reported on the story at 9:02 a.m., state troopers said the crash happened just before Exit 68 and involved one car.

The station reported the Ambulance Service of Manchester dispatched three ambulances to the scene.