High school senior killed in three-vehicle crash in New Milford

A New Milford High School senior was killed in a three-vehicle on Friday afternoon.

The 17-year-old died after the vehicle they were riding in collided with two other vehicles on Danbury Road, Route 7, in front of the Italia Mia restaurant, according to the New Milford Police Department.

Investigators found that an Infiniti G35 was driving north on Route 7 when a Hyundai Tucson tried to turn left into Italia Mia from the left southbound lane. The two vehicles collided, then the Infiniti collided with another SUV that was headed south on Route 7, police said.

A 17-year-old who was riding in the Infiniti was taken to Danbury Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The New Milford Public Schools Superintendent’s Office said Saturday that the student was a senior at the high school but that his name was not being released yet out of respect for the student’s family.

The driver of the Infinity, also 17, was taken to Danbury Hospital to be treated for injuries sustained in the crash.

The driver of the Hyundai did not need medical attention, while the driver and a passenger in the other SUV were also taken to the hospital with injuries, police said.

New Milford Mayor Pete Bass, the superintendent’s office, the New Milford Town Council and the Board of Education issued a joint statement, extending their condolences to the student’s family and hoping for a speedy recovery for those hospitalized.

“It is at times like these that we, as a community, pull together to lift one another up,” the statement said. “Especially our children who especially need us in these times.”

In the statement, New Milford Public Schools announced that support staff and counseling services were being made available to staff and students on Saturday, Sunday and Monday at the high school’s library from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Starting Monday, the Youth Agency will provide grief counselors for the New Milford High School community at the Youth Agency Community Center (John Pettibone School) from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and after school daily from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Classes at the high school will resume Tuesday. On Tuesday and Wednesday, grief counselors will be visiting classes that the student who died was enrolled in “to meet specifically with the teachers and students who shared classrooms with him to further assist and comfort as a result of this terrible tragedy and sudden loss,” officials said.

School district grief counselors and support from local organizations will also be at the school to offer additional services.

Route 7 was closed for around eight hours as the police department’s crash reconstruction team investigated the scene.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Detective Nicholas Smith at 860-355-3133 or nsmith@newmilfordpolice.org.