I-84 East was closed for more than 90 minutes Wednesday afternoon, and traffic backed up well into Danbury, after a single-vehicle accident resulted in the death of a 69-year-old man.

Connecticut State Police were first on the scene of the February 26 accident, which occurred when a 2011 Infiniti M56 being operated by Harold W. Gilligan of Springfield, Mass., went off the west shoulder of I-84 East less than a quarter mile before the Exit 10 off ramp.

Sandy Hook Fire & Rescue, Newtown Hook & Ladder, Hawleyville Fire, Newtown Volunteer Ambulance ,and a paramedic also responded to the scene.

According to the Accident Information Summary from Troop A, the Infiniti traveled off the right side of the highway before coming to rest in a wooded area off the right shoulder. Gilligan was pronounced dead at the scene.

It was unclear what caused the vehicle to go off the roadway. It was also initially unclear whether it struck a piece of construction equipment that was parked near the roadway and/or trees before coming to a stop.

As of Thursday morning the case remained under investigation.

While the highway was initially down to one travel lane in the aftermath of the incident, CSP troopers closed the highway shortly after 3:15 to investigate. Newtown Police also closed Edmond Road, which runs parallel to the highway, between its northern intersection with Schoolhouse Hill Road and the restaurant plazas near its southern intersection with Church Hill Road.

One lane of I-84 East was reopened at approximately 4:50 pm. At that time, eastbound traffic was backed up for more than eight miles, prior to Exit 7.

Edmond Road remained closed until approximately 5:30 pm.

The two closures led to extensive delays in the area.

Hilario’s towed the vehicle from the scene.

Hawleyville Fire, which remained on the highway until the vehicle was towed, cleared from the highway around 6:30 pm. The other fire companies and the local ambulance crew had cleared earlier.