A pedestrian suffered life-threatening injuries Friday afternoon when a car struck them near Old Blue Hills Road and Cherry Lane in Durham, as the State Police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Squad investigated the crash. The crash happened around 4:26 p.m. and involved a single vehicle and the pedestrian, with the roadway shut down in both directions by 6:15 p.m. as investigators worked to piece together what happened.
According to WTNH, the pedestrian was transported for life-threatening injuries, and the State Police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Squad responded to the scene to investigate. The driver involved in the crash remained on scene afterward and was described as cooperative with authorities. As of Friday evening, the station reported that the investigation remained ongoing and that no further information had been released.
Route 79 Shutdown
Route 79 was closed in both directions Friday evening. WFSB also reported on the crash, noting it occurred in the area of Old Blue Hills Road and Cherry Lane per state police and that the victim was transported to the hospital by LifeStar.
Details that would typically accompany a crash of this severity — the identities of the driver and pedestrian, the vehicle involved, and what caused the collision — have not been made public. The exact circumstances of the crash, including whether speed or any other factor played a role, remain unknown at this time.
Pedestrian Safety a Growing Concern Statewide
The Durham crash lands amid a broader pattern of pedestrian danger on Connecticut roads. State data cited by the Connecticut Highway Safety Office shows 1,474 crashes involving pedestrians in 2023 alone, resulting in 180 serious injuries and 64 deaths, with pedestrian fatalities described as having risen dramatically compared with five years earlier. More recently, the Connecticut Department of Transportation reported that pedestrian deaths rose 6% in 2025 compared with the five-year average, with speeding remaining a leading factor in serious crashes statewide.
Friday's crash is not the first serious pedestrian incident reported on Route 79 in Durham this year. Back in January, WTNH reported on a three-vehicle crash on the same road that left both drivers injured outside their vehicles and a pedestrian with serious injuries, prompting a LifeStar request at the time.
No additional details about Friday's crash have been released, and it remains unclear whether charges are anticipated or what the investigation by the State Police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Squad will ultimately determine. Hoodline will update this story as more information becomes available.
