Jennifer Leinbach, Carlos Bauer Obituary, Death News: Two people were killed and four others were injured — including a pregnant woman — in a serious three-car collision in Colchester, Connecticut, on Sunday afternoon. The crash happened around 4:15 p.m. at the intersection of Middletown Road and Cato Corner Road.
According to Connecticut State Police, the victims who lost their lives were 28-year-old Jennifer Leinbach of Norwich and 27-year-old Carlos Bauer of Colchester. Both were drivers in the crash. Leinbach was driving a 2014 Toyota RAV4, while Bauer was operating a 2018 Hyundai Elantra Sport.
Investigators said the Hyundai was traveling west on Route 16 when it rear-ended a 2018 Subaru Crosstrek. The impact caused the Subaru to veer off the road and roll over. After hitting the Subaru, the Hyundai crossed into the eastbound lane, where it collided head-on with the Toyota RAV4. The Toyota also rolled over and left the roadway, while the Hyundai remained in the eastbound lane after spinning around.
Leinbach and Bauer died from injuries sustained in the crash. A pregnant passenger in the Toyota and another passenger in the Hyundai were both seriously injured and transported to the hospital — the pregnant woman by LIFE STAR helicopter. The driver and passenger in the Subaru suffered only minor injuries.
State Police shut down the area between Standish Road and Davidson Road during the investigation. Local resident Barbara Brancifort, who lives near the crash site, described hearing the incident while playing with her granddaughter. She said she first heard a car speeding up a hill, followed by a series of loud crashes, “like what you hear on a highway when there’s a multi-car crash.”
Brancifort said although she didn’t witness the collision, the sounds made it clear it was serious. “It was just horrible. I feel for all the people that this involves. I’ve been praying for them,” she said.
She also noted that the area is known for speeding and dangerous driving. The speed limit on that stretch of Route 16 is 45 mph, and it’s marked as a no-passing zone. Despite this, she said many drivers ignore the signs and drive recklessly. She described the road as having blind spots and hills that make pulling out into traffic dangerous. “You think there’s nobody there, and then suddenly there’s someone right on your tail,” she explained.
Her son, Nick Brancifort, echoed her concerns. He believes drivers treat the road like a highway, disregarding that it intersects with residential neighborhoods. He suggested that traffic lights or other safety measures be installed to help prevent further accidents, especially at blind corners and crests.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether speed was a contributing factor. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Trooper First Class Gregory DeCarli at gregory.decarli@ct.gov.
