10 people, including 10-year-old boy, involved in serious single-car Wolcott crash

WOLCOTT, CT (WFSB) - Ten people, including two adults and eight children, were in a single car that crashed in Wolcott last week.

Police said on Monday that one of those children, a 10-year-old boy, continued to recover in the hospital.

The crash happened around 7:30 p.m. Friday on Woodtick Road.

Police said the driver traveled north and crossed into the center lane, over-corrected the car, and went off the roadway. The car rolled over several times.

There were a total of 10 people in the small Ford Focus, two women and eight children. The children ranged in age from 2 to 16 years old.

The car only had five seats, so three of the children were in the hatchback, police said. That meant five people in total did not have a seatbelt fastened.

The 10-year-old boy was one of those three children. The boy was ejected and ended up under the car. Police said he was pulled out from under it by other drivers.

Wolcott Police Chief Edward Stephens said they were lucky it rained that morning making the ground soft to cushion him.

“Had it been on asphalt, it would have been a different story,” Stephens said.

The boy suffered a severe laceration to his back and remained in the hospital at last check. Police said his eyes were open, which was a good sign that his condition improved.

They said all of the other occupants were also transported to the hospital for numerous bumps and bruises.

According to a Connecticut seat belt law passed in 2021, all passengers regardless of where they are in the vehicle, are required to buckle up.

“The operator is responsible to ensure that everyone is safely secured before the vehicle moves,” said Channel 3 law enforcement expert and former state police Lt. J. Paul Vance.

The crash happened in an area where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour. Skid marks on the road were investigated. Police said they have been looking into potential charges.

“Whether it’s simply motor vehicle charges or in addition to those motor vehicle charges, [they] could encounter criminal charges as well,” Stephens said.