A second pedestrian was injured and hospitalized after the same five-car highway crash that killed off-duty city firefighter Thomas Mieles.
The state police published that news Friday morning in a newly updated accident report.
The updated accident report states that a 22-year-old New Havener named Bianca Devlin was also taken by ambulance to Yale New Haven Hospital Wednesday night for treatment for “suspected minor injuries” after being struck by the same car that fatally hit Mieles, a 27-year-old Fair Havener who had just joined the fire department in January.
Mieles died after being struck by a car on I‑91 just south of Exit 8 at around 9:45 p.m. Wednesday. He was outside of his vehicle at the time after getting in a single-car crash. Two other cars pulled over as the drivers tried to help him out. Then a fourth car hit the parked cars, causing a fifth car to change lanes and fatally strike Mieles and injure Devlin.
Here’s how the updated state police report puts it: “After being sideswiped, Vehicle #5 entered the left lane and struck a male pedestrian that was previously operating Vehicle #1. A female pedestrian was also struck as she was standing adjacent to the male pedestrian. The male pedestrian sustained life threatening injuries and was transported by AMR to Yale New Haven Hospital where he was later pronounced deceased. The female pedestrian was also transported to Yale New Haven Hospital by AMR with suspected minor injuries. Operator #2, #3 and #4 all sustained minor injuries. Operator #3 and Operator #4 were transported to Yale New Haven Hospital by AMR. Operator #2 was transported to St. Raphael’s Hospital by AMR. All vehicles were towed from the scene, due to disabling damage. Vehicle #1 and Vehicle #2 were towed from the scene by Fountains. Vehicle #3, #4 and #5 were towed from the scene by Anthony’s.”
State police are calling on anyone who witnessed the collision, has information pertinent to the investigation, or has a vehicle dashcam video and was driving by the scene at the time to contact state Trooper Evan Troczynski at 203 – 393-4200.
If you are in an accident, or see an accident, do not get out of your car on the highway and instead call 911 so that professional first responders can arrive with firetrucks, police cars, and highway crash response vehicles can safely secure the accident scene from oncoming traffic. It is simply too dangerous to get out of your car without professional first responders securing the safety of everyone involved.
I hope the others injured recover fully and swiftly from their injuries, and my condolences to the loved ones of the deceased.