Fatal Car Crash Reported on Route 44

A car that raced through Avon on Route 44 early this morning crashed in Canton around 2 a.m., killing the driver, police said.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, which was the upper parking lot of The European Car. It is near the intersection of Route 44 and Bristol Drive,  on the opposite side of the road from the westbound lane.

"We believe we have confirmed the identity of the operator," Canton Police Chief Christopher G. Arciero said. But police are not releasing the name pending notification of the next of kin. 

An Avon police officer saw the car moving at high speed near the intersection of routes 44 and 10, Arciero said. The officer continued in the car's direction, tried to catch up to it and saw it run a light at the intersection of routes 44 and 167. The officer "activated" his lights and the siren but cut off pursuit near routes 44 and 177, police said.  

The crash occurred about one mile up the road. Scanner reports indicated the vehicle was involved in a rollover, but police have not confirmed that. 

Avon police declined to comment on the details of the pursuit and accident while the case is still open and referred questions to Canton Police. Once the investigation is closed in Canton, the Avon Police Department will release its own reports, Lt. Kelly Walsh of Avon said.

Nearby resident Jeff Fraz-Albrecht said he and his wife were downstairs in their house when his wife and son heard the crash. 

"My son came barreling down the stairs and said 'what was that noise?' " Frez-Albrecht said. 

The scene was quite the commotion, with lights and activity, he said, adding that it was hard to see much of what was going on.

"We did see a mashed-up car," he said. 

Arciero said the scene was cleared around 5 a.m. and added that police continue to follow up on the investigation. 

The Town of Canton Volunteer Fire and EMS Department had several vehicles on scene as well. 

According to the fire department, approximately 15 volunteers responded on Engines 3, 4, 5, 6, Utility 8 and Rescue 9.  Paramedics from the University of Connecticut Health Center were also on hand. Firefighters extricated the victim, whose body was eventually turned over to the medical examiner's office. 

Firefighters helped secure the vehicle, clean up the leaking fluids from it and offered other assistance, a department spokesman said. 

The Canton Police Department is handling the investigation.