Waterbury man found dead after crash

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State police are at the scene of an accident Thursday morning on Beacon Valley Road in Beacon Falls. Robert Baker, 66 of Waterbury, was found dead after the accident. –RA ARCHIVE
State police are at the scene of an accident Thursday morning on Beacon Valley Road in Beacon Falls. Robert Baker, 66 of Waterbury, was found dead after the accident. –RA ARCHIVE

BEACON FALLS — A 66-year-old Waterbury man was found dead after a two-car accident Thursday morning on Beacon Valley Road.

Robert Baker, of 90 Mohican Ave., was driving a 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix just after 10:30 a.m. when the driver of a 1996 Mercury Marquis tried to go by him, according to state police. Baker’s car drifted to the left, then veered right and hit the Mercury in the left rear quarter panel, according to state police.

The driver of the Mercury, 56-year-old John Dagostino of 15 Elmview Circle in Waterbury, told police he saw Baker slumped over the steering wheel before the collision.

Baker’s car hit an embankment and rolled over into the eastbound lane of the narrow residential road, according to police. Dagostino’s car went to the left and hit the metal guardrail alongside the westbound lane, according to police.

Baker was pronounced dead on the scene just before 11 a.m., after Naugatuck firefighters used hydraulic tools to extricate him from the car, said Jeremy Rodorigo, spokesman for Beacon Hose Company No. 1.

Dagostino complained of knee pain, and the Beacon Hose Company transported him to Waterbury Hospital, according to state police. His passenger, 58-year-old Linda Bierwirth of 195 Andrew Ave. in Naugatuck, was not injured, according to police.

All three were wearing seat belts, according to police.

The crash occurred near the Cotton Hollow Bridge, which links Beacon Falls to Naugatuck. Emergency responders closed Beacon Valley Road for about an hour.

Baker’s autopsy has been tentatively scheduled for Friday or Saturday, according to police. Witnesses to the crash are asked to call Trooper Gennaro Delgais at 203-393-4200. The accident remains under investigation.