Three people were transported to the hospital, one in suspected serious condition, following a two-vehicle crash on Rochambeau Bridge late Saturday afternoon. The crash and subsequent investigation closed I-84 East between Exits 11 and 13 for at least five hours.

CT State Police report a 2009 Honda Civic LX being operated by Shakur Q. Muhammad, 18, of Meriden, was traveling on I-84 East approaching the Newtown-Southbury town line and Rochambeau Bridge around 3:49 pm Saturday, February 21. The Honda was in the left lane of two.

A 2015 Toyota RAV-4 being operated by Shadi M. Qumbargi, 37, of Hopewell Junction, N.Y., was also traveling on I-84 East, in the right lane prior to the town line and Rochambeau Bridge.

A CSP investigation determined the Honda was traveling in the left lane at a high rate of speed when the Toyota, traveling at a greater speed, cut off the Honda from the right lane and abruptly applied the brakes, causing the Honda to lose control, cross over the highway, and strike the jersey barrier in the right shoulder of the bridge.

Qumbargi and the Toyota fled the scene but were later located.

Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps, a paramedic, and Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue also responded to the crash.

John R.R. Tarantino, 16, of Wallingford, the front seat passenger of the Honda, was unresponsive at the scene. He was transported to Danbury Hospital by Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps for suspected life-threatening injuries.

Muhammad and another passenger in the Honda — a 14 year old male from Wallingford — were also transported by NVAC, for suspected minor injuries. None of those in the Honda were wearing seat belts, according to the CSP report. The vehicle’s front airbags deployed, it was also noted.

Qumbargi had no apparent injuries, also according to the CSP report. He was wearing a seat belt. The Toyota’s airbags did not deploy.

The Honda was towed from the scene by Hilario’s Towing due to disabling damage.

Traffic on the interstate was immediately affected, with standstill conditions reported back to Exit 10 within an hour and then beyond as the investigation and closure continued. Local secondary and even tertiary roads were also affected, with heavy traffic reported not only on Church Hill and Glen roads but also Walnut Tree Hill Road, Washington Avenue, and Berkshire Road. Residents of Pootatuck Park reported seeing many vehicles in their neighborhood, including tractor-trailers navigating over Narragansett Trail, Farview Drive, and Pootatuck Park Road on Saturday.

The crash remains under investigation.