Ronald Omar Tello, Carlos Jimenez Molina Death News – Two Danbury men lost their lives in a tragic three-vehicle crash on Interstate 84 early Sunday morning, as confirmed by Connecticut State Police. The victims have been identified as Ronald Omar Tello, 27, and Carlos Jimenez Molina, 36, both residents of Danbury.
According to the state police report, the accident took place at approximately 6:30 a.m. when a 2008 Hyundai Tiburon, driven by a 21-year-old woman from Jamaica, New York, became disabled in the left lane of I-84 West. The vehicle had previously crashed into a guardrail on the right shoulder of the highway. Following the collision, the Hyundai was left facing oncoming traffic in the left lane.
State police noted that after the crash, at least one of the passengers may have exited the vehicle and stood near its side. The report indicated that Tello was a pedestrian at the time of the collision, while Jimenez Molina was still a passenger in the Hyundai.
As the crash scene unfolded, a 2021 Lexus RX, driven by a 55-year-old man from Avon, approached the disabled Hyundai while a tractor-trailer, a 55-foot Frontliner Cascadia, was driving in the adjacent right lane. The Lexus struck the Hyundai, causing it to spin in front of the tractor-trailer. The collision led to a second crash involving the tractor-trailer.
Tello and Jimenez Molina both sustained fatal injuries from the crash. The driver of the Hyundai, the 21-year-old woman, suffered only minor injuries. The Avon man driving the Lexus, as well as the driver of the tractor-trailer from Davenport, Florida, were both unharmed in the incident.
Following the crash, authorities closed the westbound lanes of I-84 for an extended period of time to allow for a thorough investigation of the scene. No charges have been filed at this point, as the investigation is ongoing.
State police are seeking witnesses or anyone with information related to the crash to come forward. Those who may have witnessed the crash or have dashboard camera footage are encouraged to contact Trooper Ilias Bistolas at 203-267-2280 or by email at Ilias.Bistolas@ct.gov.
The tragic accident has left the local community in shock, and authorities continue their efforts to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the crash. While the investigation proceeds, law enforcement urges the public to assist in any way possible to help bring clarity to this devastating incident.