Vernon Student Dies in South Windsor Car Crash

An unthinkable tragedy unfolded Saturday night when an SUV traveling near the South Windsor-East Windsor border left the roadway and struck some trees, killing two of the occupants and sending three others to area hospitals with serious injuries.

"We're trying to sort it out right now," South Windsor Police Chief Matthew Reed told Patch late Saturday.

All five victims were between the ages of 15 and 19, Reed said.

The two who died were from East Windsor and Vernon, according to Reed. Of the three who were injured, two are from South Windsor and one is from East Windsor, though "[n]one of their injuries are said to be life-threatening," Reed said.

All of the victims' names are being withheld at this time, Reed said.

Reed said police do not know the specific cause of the accident but an accident-reconstruction team has been called in to assist with the investigation.

That portion of Abbe Road is particularly hilly and speed was likely a factor, Reed said. He also did not specify the hospitals that are treating the three surviving victims.

According to police, the SUV drove off the road near 497 Abbe Road in South Windsor around 7:45 p.m., striking the trees, leaving a debris trail that ended in East Windsor.

"A South Windsor firefighter who lives near the site of the crash was the first person on the scene," Reed wrote in a press release.

South Windsor police, fire and ambulance all responded to the scene, as did East Windsor's Broad Brook Fire Department. Life Star helicopter responded to the scene to airlift one of the injured.

Check back with Vernon Patch as more information becomes available.