Voluntown, CT – A Norwich man was fatally injured, and several others hospitalized, Monday evening after a group of unregistered dirt bikes was struck by a pickup truck on Ekonk Hill Rd.
At approximately 7:33 PM the Voluntown Fire Department and Connecticut State Police (CSP) Troop E were dispatched to the area of 342 Ekonk Hill Rd for reports of a pickup truck vs several dirt bikes with serious injuries. While units were responding, Quinebaug Valley Emergency Communications (QVEC) dispatchers utilized the Dispatcher Initiated Auto Launch (DIAL) protocol to launch a LIFE STAR helicopter to the scene.
Fire and EMS units arrived to find several unhelmeted dirt bikers down in the roadways with a crowd of bystanders attempting to render aid, one man was having CPR done on him. A second LIFE STAR helicopter was requested to a nearby landing zone along with a total of 4 ambulances and two paramedics. The second LIFE STAR helicopter was canceled as medical personnel triaged patients on the scene.
According to the CSP, at the time of the accident a grey 2011 F150, operated by a 64-year-old Jewett City man, was traveling South on Ekonk Hill Rd (Route 49) when it struck the rear of three unregistered dirt bikes that were riding on the roadway. A 29-year-old Norwich man, operating a green Kawasaki KX250, a 26-year-old Niantic man, operating a black Talaria TL4000, and a 20-year-old Taftville man, operating a blue Yamaha 250F, were all knocked off their bikes. A 25-year-old Voluntown man, operating a blue Yamaha 250F, narrowly avoided the collision.
The Norwich man was transported by ground to Backus Hospital Norwich by Voluntown Ambulance where he later succumbed to his injuries. The Niantic man was transported to a nearby landing zone where LIFE STAR subsequently transported him to Hartford Hospital with serious injuries. The Taftville man was transported to Backus Hospital Norwich with minor injuries. The Jewett City man was transported to Backus Hospital Plainfield with minor injuries.
The accident remains under investigation by the Connecticut State Police Troop E, anyone with information should contact Trooper Timothy Wengloski #1032 at 860-848-6500.
Quiet Corner Alerts maintains a policy of not revealing the names of victims or suspects unless they are actively being sought by law enforcement or pose a perceived threat to the public.