When first responders were dispatched to I-84 East early Monday morning, they were told they were heading to a two-vehicle crash. They were also informed that one of the vehicles had been traveling in the wrong direction, and it was on fire after crashing into a large truck.

Two drivers were uninjured but one was arrested on three charges following the incident, which occurred around 2:15 am October 31.

Crystal Smith, 41, of Danbury, was operating a 2012 GMC Terrain on I-84 East, westbound, approximately one-quarter of a mile west of the Exit 9 off-ramp, around 2:13 am October 31. According to CT State Police (CSP), Smith crashed the compact SUV head-on with a 2022 Freightliner truck being operated by Oroyalya Snead, 43, of Ozone Park, N.Y.

Smith’s vehicle then went off the roadway and damaged approximately 100 feet of DOT wire rope guardrail. The GMC rolled onto one side, and caught on fire.

Hawleyville and Hook & Ladder fire companies, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance and Nuvance Ambulance Services in Danbury were all dispatched to the scene. The limited access roadway was still passable at that time, with vehicles still able to travel eastbound on it, so local first responders had to go into Bethel to access I-84 from Exit 8, and then travel back into Newtown to get to the scene.

Hawleyville Fire Chief Don DiGioia served as incident command.

“The truck was towing a trailer that had a full-size storage container on it, so the full vehicle was the size of a tractor-trailer,” he said.

The set-up of the truck, he said, “actually turned out to be a good thing because due to the fact that it was a corrugated steel box, it stayed together after it rolled off the trailer. The back of a tractor-trailer isn’t very strong, so they roll and they fall right apart, and their cargo goes everywhere.”

Both drivers were able to get out of their respective vehicles before state troopers arrived on scene. Both were checked for injuries, but neither went to a hospital.

The truck driver had very minor injuries, according to DiGioia.

“The woman, the wrong-way driver, she had a few injuries but she was really pretty lucky,” he said.

According to the CSP report, Smith was “placed through the Standard Field Sobriety Tests, which she refused to complete.” She was placed into custody and transported to Troop A-Southbury for processing.

As first responders began arriving and the investigation got underway, the road was closed. DiGioia said one lane was reopened around 7:15 am.

Both vehicles were towed due to disabling damage.

Smith was charged with operating under the influence, reckless endangerment-second, and driving the wrong-way on a highway. She was released on a $5,000 cash/surety bond and scheduled for an appearance at Danbury Superior Court on November 15.

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.