Responders Faced Complicated Extrication After Route 25 Collision

By John Voket

An Appleblossom Lane woman awaiting a court appearance on a DUI arrest November 25 was involved in a serious collision that closed South Main Street (Route 25) just before midnight on December 2.

Exercising what Newtown Hook & Ladder Chief Jason Rivera described as “out of the box” tactics, more than 20 fire and medical volunteers were able to efficiently treat and free driver Kerry Perran, 44, from her wrecked 1999 Dodge minivan following the collision with a tractor trailer.

Facing what Chief Rivera said was one of the most complicated and challenging situations in recent memory, firefighters worked meticulously disassembling the crushed front end of the passenger vehicle using a careful piece-by-piece tactic, first creating space for medical responders to stabilize the lone occupant, who was traveling southbound at around 11:40 pm.

“We used every piece of hydraulic equipment and rescue tool we carry,” Chief Rivera told The Newtown Bee following the incident, adding that the driver’s “extreme degree of entrapment” required a unique approach to coordinate medical treatment while at the same time literally cutting the minivan away from around the victim one piece at a time.

Police reported that the minivan sideswiped and connected with the rear wheel assembly on the trailer being towed by Paul J. Correia, 57, of North Dartmouth, Mass., who was operating the 2010 International truck for a Massachusetts company called RDL Logistics.

Correia was not injured, and the crash is under investigation. Following the road closure, the Newtown Police accident reconstruction team was on the scene gathering measurements and details, which required closing the state road for more than an hour.

According to police, following the rescue, Perran was transported to Danbury Hospital to be treated for her injuries. Responders at the scene said the driver was conscious and communicating with rescuers during at least part of the rescue process.

A spokesperson at Danbury Hospital said that Perran was admitted in serious condition, and had been upgraded to fair condition by December 8.

Almost exactly one week earlier, police said they witnessed Perran crossing over the road’s center lines while driving a vehicle westward on Wasserman Way.

Following a brief investigation, police charged Perran with driving under the influence and with failure to drive to the right. After processing, police released her on $200 bail for a December 9 appearance in Danbury Superior Court.

Newtown Police are interested in speaking with anyone who may have witnessed the crash, which occurred on a long curve along South Main Street that has been the scene of numerous motor vehicle collisions in the past.

Witnesses, or anyone with additional information, are asked to contact the local department at 203-426-5841.