Route 34 Crash Hospitalizes Man, Causes Travel Delays

By Andrew Gorosko

Police continue to investigate a three-vehicle crash on Route 34 (Berkshire Road) in Sandy Hook at the start of the evening rush on Tuesday, October 21, that sent two people to the hospital for treatment of injuries, one of whom was admitted as a patient.

Motorist Emory Check, 66, of 19 Paugussett Road, Sandy Hook, was in fair condition in Danbury Hospital on the afternoon of October 22, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Motorist Amber Finlayson, 16, of 15 Serenity Lane, Sandy Hook, was treated at the hospital and then released.

The third motorist involved in the accident, Gary Wildman, 51, of 14 Long View Terrace, Sandy Hook, reported minor pain after the crash and was not transported to the hospital, police said.

When the three vehicles came to rest after the accident, they were widely spread out along a stretch of Route 34, just east of its intersection with High Rock Road. The accident occurred at the beginning of the evening rush, resulting in travel delays and motorist detours in the area.

Police said they expect charges will be filed following their investigation.

Police said Check was driving a 1994 Ford Ranger pickup truck eastward on Route 34, east of High Rock Road, about 3:53 pm, when the Ranger crossed the road’s centerline and heavily sideswiped a westbound 1989 Oldsmobile Delta 88 driven by Finlayson.

The Ranger then continued traveling eastward in the westbound lane and collided head-on with a 2003 Ford F-150 pickup truck driven by Wildman, police said.

After that impact, the Ranger went off the westbound road shoulder, spun around and struck a fence in front of 151 Berkshire Road.

Sandy Hook Fire Chief Bill Halstead said firefighters used a hydraulic prying tool to cut off the passenger-side door of the Ranger to extricate Check from the wreck, after which he was transported to the hospital.