Extended Delays—

Military Convoy Vehicles Involved In I-84 Crash

By Andrew Gorosko

Trucks traveling in a military convoy on Interstate 84 were involved in a three-vehicle accident that caused extended travel delays on the highway on Monday morning.

The accident, which occurred on eastbound I-84 near the Schoolhouse Hill Road overpass, caused lengthy traffic backups as state police investigated the crash and the wreckage was removed from the scene.

 The accident involved a Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV and a military Hummer H-1 that was towing another Hummer H-1.

State police said that motorist Raul Albuquerque, 28, of Danbury was driving a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee in the left lane of two lanes at about 9:37 am.

At that time, Scott Thomas, 25, of Danbury was driving a Hummer that was towing another Hummer in the right lane.

Thomas began to slow the Hummer in order to allow other military vehicles in the convoy to move from the right road shoulder into the right travel lane, state police said.

The Hummer that Thomas as towing then began to fishtail, causing the Hummer that Thomas was driving to move into the left lane.

The Hummer Thomas was driving then struck the right side of the Jeep. That impact caused the Jeep to turn sideways and travel in front of the Hummer Thomas was driving, state police said.

The Jeep then rolled over several times and came to rest on its roof in the left travel lane.

The Hummer being towed broke free from the Hummer that was towing it and then traveled over the highway’s median divider, striking some metal-beam guardrailing along which it traveled until it came to an uncontrolled final rest, state police said.

The Hummer Thomas was driving came to rest on the median.

Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps members transported both drivers to Danbury Hospital for treatment of injuries, state police said.

A hospital spokeswoman said that Albuquerque was treated and released, but had no records of Thomas being treated.

Hawleyville volunteer firefighters responded to the accident. Enforcement information was not available.