Woodstock, CT – A crash that claimed the life of one person closed Route 198 for hours Wednesday evening.
At approximately 5:20 PM on Wednesday, October 30th, 2024, members of the Bungay, Muddy Brook, and Woodstock Fire Departments and Woodstock EMS were dispatched to the area of 1265 Route 198 for a truck versus pole Motor Vehicle Accident. While en route Quinebaug Valley Emergency Communications (QVEC) dispatchers received calls indicating the truck was on fire with an occupant trapped inside prompting the request from an engine from the Southbridge Fire Department (MA).
Upon arrival crews found heavy fire consuming the pickup truck’s passenger compartment and live wires down near the vehicle preventing crews from fighting the fire or accessing the occupant. The incident commander immediately requested a utility crew to the scene and for Eversource to shut off power to the area remotely. As crews awaited confirmation the power was secured, a brush fire began near the vehicle and began growing rapidly. Firefighters were able to control the brush fire in approximately 10 minutes, at which time Eversource reported the power to be off in the area. With no utility crew on the scene to verify, crews took the risk and began fighting the vehicle fire. Once the fire was extinguished one occupant was located within the vehicle and they were pronounced deceased on the scene.
According to the Connecticut State Police (CSP), the 2015 Ford F350, registered to a Woodstock man, was traveling South on Route 198 when it left the roadway for an unknown reason. The truck exited the right shoulder striking a utility pole and finally a tree where it caught fire, quickly becoming fully engulfed. The lone occupant was pronounced deceased on the scene by EMS. The identity of the operator has yet to be confirmed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Route 198 remained closed until approximately 2 AM as CSP Troop D and the CSP Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Squad (CARS) investigated the incident. The investigation remains open and Troop D is asking anyone with information to contact Trooper Siart #1410 at matthew.siart@ct.gov or (860) 779-4900.
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