Griswold High School student dead, two others critical in Sunday crash
Jun. 25—A 15-year-old Griswold student was killed and four people injured — two critically — in a Sunday morning crash in Brooklyn, state police said.
Troopers responded at approximately 4:39 a.m. to the intersection of Route 205 and Allen Hill Road where a 2004 Toyota Prius carrying five people failed to stop before striking a tree and landing in an embankment, according to police.
Police said passenger Chanelle Edwards, a Griswold High School student who was just a month away from turning 16, was transported to the Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, where the Brown Street resident was pronounced dead.
In a statement sent out Sunday, Griswold Superintendent Sean McKenna asked the school community "join together to keep the student and the family in our hearts, thoughts, and prayers during this most difficult time."
McKenna said a grief counseling team would be available starting at 8 a.m. Monday at the high school for students, families and faculty.
Two other occupants of the car were transported to Hartford Hospital with critical injuries and two more were taken to local medical centers with suspected minor injuries.
The car's 17-year-old driver, Alexander Gibson, whose address was not listed in a police report, had suspected minor injuries, according to the crash summary.
Byrce Burditt, 17, of Plainfield; Nicholas Johnson, 17, of Moosup; and Ethan Collins, 21, of Central Village, were listed as the car's other passengers.
In a Facebook post, Griswold High School Principal Erin Palonen described Edwards as a "beautiful young woman inside and out; always so polite, loving and kind."
"Parents and family members, please check on your kids," she wrote. "I want to hug every one of them."
The collision remains under investigation and no enforcement actions had been taken as of Sunday afternoon, police said. Anyone with information on the crash can contact the state police Troop D barracks in Danielson at (860) 779-4900.
