Branford P.D.
Chief Kevin Halloran, Rose Mason and Jill Marcus, Chair, Police Commission.
On Sept. 18, 2009, Kelley Mason was driving northbound on I‑95 when her Suzuki drifted to the right onto the grass shoulder, rolled over, hit a light pole, and then a tree. She was alone that night in the car, in what Branford police said was a one-car accident that occurred at about 9 p.m. near exit 55.
Branford police and first responder ambulance crews were summoned and they tried desperately to save her, but could not. She was pronounced dead at the scene. She was 23.
Although no exact cause has ever been determined for the accident, the Mason family does know that Kelley wasn’t wearing a seatbelt that night. She was ejected from her vehicle during the accident.
Since then Mason’s family has conducted a tireless seatbelt awareness campaign. They have raised over $80,000 from a number of fundraising events at Anthony’s Ocean View in New Haven.
The proceeds from these fundraisers have primarily been donated to the Guilford Police Department, the town where the Masons live, to increase education and enforcement of Connecticut’s mandatory seatbelt laws.
But recently, on April 11, Rose Mason, Kelley’s mom, attended a Branford Police Commission meeting to present the Branford Police Department with a $1,500 donation to help strengthen the Department’s Seat Belt Awareness and Enforcement Program.
Mason said that their family’s decision to make the donation to Branford was based in part on the fact that Branford first responders provided medical care for Kelley on the night of her accident and later helped the family to gather information about the original E‑911 call for assistance.
Police Chief Kevin Halloran said, “We are humbled by the Mason family’s gracious donation to strengthen Seatbelt Awareness on the heels of such a tragic loss to their family. Our agency accepts this donation in Kelley’s honor.”
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