SOUTHINGTON – A Meriden man was seriously injured during a car crash in Southington on Wednesday.
State police identified the victim who was seriously hurt as Cesar Rodriguez, 42.
The other driver involved has been identified as Miguel Sanchez-Mendez, 49, who also resides in Meriden.
According to state police, Sanchez-Mendez was headed west in the left lane on Interstate 691 around 6:44 a.m. when he, in the area of Exit 4, approached Rodriguez. State police said Rodriguez was either stopped or traveling slowly in the left lane, as his vehicle was partially disabled because of a “tire failure” from a prior collision.
State troopers said Sanchez-Mendez struck the disabled vehicle, causing the vehicle Rodriguez was in to be projected forward into the cable barrier. The vehicle then spun out of control before finally coming to rest.
Rodriguez was taken in an ambulance to St. Mary’s Hospital, in Waterbury.
Sanchez-Mendez was taken in an ambulance to the Hospital of Central Connecticut, in New Britain, for injuries that were suspected to be minor in nature.
Troopers are still investigating the crash. They are asking anyone who may have witnessed the collision or those with pertinent information to contact Trooper Daniel McCue at 203-393-4200 or daniel.mccue@ct.gov.
Justin Muszynski can be reached at 860-973-1809 or jmuszynski@bristolpress.com.