A New York State man, who was involved in a serious one-car accident on eastbound Interstate 84 in Bethel, removed himself from the wrecked vehicle and walked about a mile, before being spotted by a passerby who reported to state police seeing the man walking near the roadway about 12:25 am on Thanksgiving morning, November 23, officials said.

Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Company Chief John Basso said that state police repeatedly looked for the man before finally finding him lying down alongside eastbound I-84 in Newtown, about one mile from the accident scene.

State police said that motorist David Espinoza, 35, of White Plains, N.Y., who was driving a 2003 Volvo S-40 sedan, lost control of the vehicle, after which the auto drove off the right side of eastbound I-84, climbed a slope and then struck a tree, heavily damaging the vehicle.

Hawleyville firefighters responded to the accident, where they controlled spilled automotive fluids and disconnected the car's battery to prevent a fire, Chief Basso said.

Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps transported Espinoza to Danbury Hospital, Chief Basso said. Espinoza was treated for injuries at the emergency department and then released, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Chief Basso said that the damage to the auto was so extensive, it is fortunate that Espinoza was not more seriously injured.

Enforcement information on the accident was not available.