State rep. one of two killed in fiery wrong-way crash on Route 9 in Cromwell

CROMWELL, CT (WFSB) - Two drivers were killed in a wrong-way crash that happened on Route 9 in Cromwell Thursday morning.

One of them, according to state lawmakers, was Middletown state Rep. Quentin Williams.

Channel 3 was told that Williams was driving back from the governor’s inaugural ball when the crash happened.

State police confirmed Thursday afternoon that Williams was not the wrong-way driver.

Police identified the driver of the wrong-way vehicle as Kimede Mustafaj, 27, of Manchester.

The crash was reported between exits 16 and 19 shortly after midnight, according to the state Department of Transportation. The highway reopened around 6:45 a.m.

According to state police, Williams was in the left lane on Route 9 south in the area of the exit 18 entrance ramp.

Mustafaj, who was headed north in the southbound lanes, struck Williams’ vehicle head-on. Williams’ vehicle came to an uncontrolled rest in the left shoulder and was fully engulfed in flames.

Williams was pronounced dead at the scene, state police said.

The second vehicle came to an uncontrolled rest in the grass of the center median. Mustafaj was also pronounced dead at the scene.

The crash remains under investigation.

Anyone who may have witnessed it is asked to contact state police at 860-534-1000.

For real-time traffic updates, check the Channel 3 traffic map here.

Refresh this page and watch Eyewitness News for updates.

Copyright 2023 WFSB. All rights reserved.