Crash closes Route 8 for hours

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A 1993 Toyota Corolla, which state police said had been abandoned, was totaled when another car struck it from behind on Route 8 north in Naugatuck on Monday afternoon. – HARRISON CONNERY/REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

NAUGATUCK — A two-car crash on Route 8 north involving a vehicle that state police said had been parked and abandoned on the side of the roadway led to a prolonged road closure Monday afternoon as troopers worked to clear the scene.

The accident occurred just before 2 p.m. Monday. State police said a 2005 Toyota Camry driven by 37-year-old Keyur Patel of Seymour was traveling in the left lane when his vehicle veered off to the right, through the next travel lane, and into the highway’s right shoulder just before exit 25. The Camry struck a parked 1993 Toyota Corolla, which was in the shoulder, from behind reached.

The resulting collision sent both vehicles traveling out of control, across two travel lanes, before they came to a final stop in the median of the roadway.

The Corolla was totaled, with images showing its trunk was crumpled into the car’s cabin where the rear passenger seats were located. The Camry, whose air bag had deployed, sustained damage to its front end.

State police said Patel complained of pain and was taken by ambulance to Waterbury Hospital for treatment of what had appeared to be minor injuries.

Traffic was routed off Route 8 north between exits 25 and 26 while officials worked to clear the crash. That section of the roadway reopened to traffic around 3:30 p.m., state police said.

State police listed Matthew Dalvano, whose age was not provided, of Waterbury as the Corolla’s owner. But it was not clear Monday if it was Dalvano who had been driving the vehicle before abandoning it on the roadway.

According to state law, it is illegal for anyone to leave an abandoned vehicle within the limits of any highway without consent for more than 24 hours, but it did not appear the Corolla been left abandoned long enough for that law to be applicable.

The accident is under investigation.