Update, 4:20 p.m.:
A 19-year-old New Hartford woman remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after a head-on, two-vehicle collision Monday morning on Mansfield Avenue.
After the woman’s 2012 Honda Accord crossed the double yellow lines as it travelled south on Mansfield Avenue at about 7 a.m., it hit a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer headed north, according to police. The 59-year-old New Canaan woman driving the SUV was also hospitalized, but not with life-threatening injuries, police said.
Darien police issued this news release about the incident, providing a few more details than previously had been made public:
On November 23, 2015 at approximately 7:00am, the Darien Police Department responded to a serious motor vehicle accident on Mansfield Ave. north of Middlesex Rd. Upon arrival officers determined that a 2012 Honda Accord traveling south on Mansfield Ave, crossed the double yellow line into the northbound lane, and struck a 2006 Chevy Trailblazer head on. The operator of the Chevy, a 59 year old New Canaan woman, was injured and subsequently hospitalized. The operator of the Honda, a 19 year old New Hartford woman, was seriously injured and required extrication from her vehicle. The operators were the only occupants of the vehicles. Darien EMS transported the injured parties to Norwalk and Stamford Hospitals.
The Darien Police Accident Investigation Team (A.I.T.) was called to the scene due to the severity of the incident. Mansfield Ave between Pembroke Rd and Middlesex Rd was closed for over 3 hours for scene processing and reconstruction.
This incident remains under investigation by the Darien Police A.I.T. Anyone who has information regarding this incident is asked to please contact the Police Department at 203-662-5300.
Original article, 3:42 p.m.:
A woman whose car left its lane and slammed head on into a sport-utility vehicle Monday morning on Mansfield Avenue remained in the hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said.
Police have not released the name of the women driving the Honda Accord or the woman driving the Chevrolet Trailblazer it hit. They are contacting relatives of both women, who were sent, in one case, to Stamford Hospital, in the other, to Norwalk Hospital.
The Honda was going south on Mansfield Avenue, just north of Middlesex Road at about 7 a.m. Monday when it crossed the double-yellow line and hit the SUV, police said. It appears speed was a factor in causing the accident, according to police.
As the driver’s were assisted into ambulances (neither vehicle had passengers) and police investigated the scene, the road was closed for 3 1/2 hours (until about 10:30 a.m.)
Some police from the night shift continued to work at the scene as others from the incoming day shift also assisted, including directing traffic to detours. Among the traffic: school buses for Ox Ridge School students.
Police say they expect later to be able to name the woman who’s life is in danger, at some point after relatives have been notified. No identifying information about either driver was released, including ages and the town where either lives.