Collision kills Prospect man

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Police and emergency personnel on the scene of a fatal car crash on Prospect Road (Route 69) at Terry Road in Waterbury near the Prospect town line on Thursday afternoon. Brian Cavanaugh, of Prospect, was killed in the accident. –REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
Police and emergency personnel on the scene of a fatal car crash on Prospect Road (Route 69) at Terry Road in Waterbury near the Prospect town line on Thursday afternoon. Brian Cavanaugh, of Prospect, was killed in the accident. –REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

WATERBURY — Police are investigating a two-vehicle wreck that killed a 56-year-old Prospect man and resulted in the closure of a section of Route 69 near the Prospect town line for several hours Thursday afternoon.

Brian Cavanaugh was killed as a southbound 1996 Dodge Ram pickup truck smashed into the driver side of his 2005 Toyota Camry shortly before 2 p.m., according to authorities. Cavanaugh was turning left from Terry Road onto Route 69, into the lane heading to the city center. He died on impact, according to police.

The driver of the pickup, Eric Marshall, 20, of Waterbury, was taken to Waterbury Hospital with minor injuries, police said. Deputy Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said Marshall tried unsuccessfully to avoid the Camry. The impact pushed both vehicles another 40 feet, he said.

Two passengers in the truck were also taken to Waterbury Hospital and later released, Spagnolo said. Marshall was expected to be released Thursday evening. Neither driver appears to have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol, Spagnolo said.

Police have not determined if either driver is at fault. Both vehicles were towed to police headquarters for inspection.

The impact heavily damaged the truck and mangled the Camry. A red tarp was thrown over the car while police and firefighters turned away onlookers and closed the road.

Firefighters spread absorbent materials to soak up fluids from the cars and set up a hose as a precaution.