17-year-old Julio Gomez's life was tragically cut short following a three-car accident in New Milford, Connecticut as stated in WWLP reports. Julio, a senior at New Milford High School, was remembered as a "caring young man" who was excited to embark on his senior year and go to college, as New Milford Superintendent Janet Parlato expressed, according to the Newstimes.
The fatal crash, occurred on the busy Route 7. The stretch of Route 7, known as Danbury Road, has witnessed over 230 crashes in the last year alone, with four fatalities in this year so far. New Milford Mayor Pete Bass acknowledged the issue, attributing the danger to excessive speeds and the presence of multiple businesses around the area.
State Representative Bill Buckabee highlighted the urgency for the state to conduct a traffic study to determine what additions are needed to prevent further accidents, stressing the need for all parties to collaborate towards finding a "true solution." The state Department of Transportation is working closely with local officials to identify potential upgrades such as additional lighting and traffic lights to ensure safety for all road users via NBC Connecticut.
