Woman, Toddler Killed In Violent Crash In West Hartford: UPDATE

WEST HARTFORD, CT — A 26-year-old Bristol woman and a 2-year-old toddler were killed in a horrific, three-vehicle accident on Interstate 84 in West Hartford Wednesday night.

According to a Connecticut State Police accident report released Thursday morning, the woman killed has been identified as Natalia Dudzinski, 26, of Candlewood Drive, Bristol.

Also killed in the crash was 2-year-old Malakhi Scott, who would have turned 3 on Sept. 23, according to the report.

The three-vehicle accident involved one vehicle crossing the I-84 median, slamming into another vehicle and then both vehicles were slammed by a tractor trailer.

State police released the following details Thursday morning regarding the crash:

• Dudzinski was driving a 2017 Suburu Impreza Sport car on I-84 east, just east of Exit 44 in the left lane of three.

• At the same time, a Kenworth tractor trailer being driven by a 30-year-old Parkton, N.C., man was traveling in the center lane of three on I-84 east, just behind Dudzinski's vehicle.

• As those two vehicles were traveling east, a 2007 Volkswagen Jetta being driven by a 28-year-old Wolcott woman was traveling west on I-84 in West Hartford, just prior to the Exit 44 on ramp in the left lane of three.

Police said, "for an unknown reason," the Wolcott woman lost control of her Jetta, entered the grassy median of I-84, then the left lane of I-84 east and struck Dudzinski's Suburu.

Both of those vehicles then entered the center lane of I-84 east, where they collided with the tractor trailer, police said.

The Suburu ended up in the right lane of I-84 east, where it came to an "uncontrolled rest" east of Exit 44.

The tractor trailer driver was able to come to a "controlled rest" in the left lane of I-84 east and the Jetta came to an "uncontrolled rest" in the grassy area off the right shoulder.

Both Dudzinski and her toddler passenger, who was in a child restraint seat, were pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Jetta was taken to Hartford Hospital via ambulance for suspected "minor injuries," police said.

The driver of the tractor trailer refused medical attention at the scene, police said.

All three vehicles were towed from the scene due to disabling damage and the highway was closed for several hours overnight.

The accident is still under investigation and any witness or anyone with dashcam footage of the vehicles is asked to contact Trooper Michael Dean at the state police Troop H barracks in Hartford via 860-534-1098 or [email protected].

For the Connecticut State Police news page, click on this link.