WTNH News Channel 8 / News / 1999

	Four Dead in Wrong-Way Fatal Accident on Interstate 95 (Stratford-WTNH) _ The first fatal accident of the year claims four lives, including a baby girl. The head-on collision occurred early this morning in the southbound lanes of I-95. One of the drivers was heading the wrong way on the highway. News Channel 8's Ned Berkowitz reports. A holiday spent visiting family ended tragically early this morning, just after the start of 1999. 20 year old Charles Flaherty, 22 year old Josephine Flaherty and her three year old daughter, were on their way home to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, after visiting relatives in Maine. They were killed when their car was struck head-on by A pickup driven by 41 year old Silvestre Bonilla of Bridgeport. Bonilla was also killed. Police believe Bonilla got on the highway somewhere in Bridgeport, and began heading north in the southbound lanes. Sgt. Daniel Semosky, Connecticut State Police: "We got some calls via 911, cell calls, and a split second later the car was involved in the accident." The accident occurred by exit 30 on the Bridgeport/Stratford line, just after 12:30. This was not where EMT Joe Tomaso wanted to ring in the new year. Joe Tomaso, Nelson Ambulance: "We get to scenes and we try to do everything we can for somebody. Unfortunately there are times when we can't do anything and this was one of those times." Police can't say for certain right now why the driver of this truck was heading the wrong way on I-95. They're still waiting for toxicology reports, but they believe alcohol was a factor. Sgt. Semosky: "Considering someone driving the wrong way on the highway and it being New Year's Eve, that's a possibility." Police say such tragic accidents are few and far between, but Connecticut still has one of the highest alcohol related highway death rates rates in the country. According to police, Joseph Flaherty was a paratrooper stationed with the Army's 82nd Airborne division, based in Fort Bragg. Today's News Page. WTNH Home Page. ©1999 WTNH-TV A LIN station.

Four Dead in Wrong-Way Fatal Accident on Interstate 95
(Stratford-WTNH) _ The first fatal accident of the year claims four lives, including a baby girl. The head-on collision occurred early this morning in the southbound lanes of I-95. One of the drivers was heading the wrong way on the highway.
News Channel 8's Ned Berkowitz reports.

A holiday spent visiting family ended tragically early this morning, just after the start of 1999. 20 year old Charles Flaherty, 22 year old Josephine Flaherty and her three year old daughter, were on their way home to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, after visiting relatives in Maine. They were killed when their car was struck head-on by A pickup driven by 41 year old Silvestre Bonilla of Bridgeport. Bonilla was also killed. Police believe Bonilla got on the highway somewhere in Bridgeport, and began heading north in the southbound lanes.

Sgt. Daniel Semosky, Connecticut State Police: "We got some calls via 911, cell calls, and a split second later the car was involved in the accident."

The accident occurred by exit 30 on the Bridgeport/Stratford line, just after 12:30. This was not where EMT Joe Tomaso wanted to ring in the new year.

Joe Tomaso, Nelson Ambulance: "We get to scenes and we try to do everything we can for somebody. Unfortunately there are times when we can't do anything and this was one of those times."

Police can't say for certain right now why the driver of this truck was heading the wrong way on I-95. They're still waiting for toxicology reports, but they believe alcohol was a factor.

Sgt. Semosky: "Considering someone driving the wrong way on the highway and it being New Year's Eve, that's a possibility."

Police say such tragic accidents are few and far between, but Connecticut still has one of the highest alcohol related highway death rates rates in the country.

According to police, Joseph Flaherty was a paratrooper stationed with the Army's 82nd Airborne division, based in Fort Bragg.

Today's News Page.

WTNH Home Page.