Middletown Man Dies in Accident on Route 9 in Chester

A Middletown resident died Friday evening after sustaining fatal injuries in a one-car motor vehicle accident on Route 9 in Chester.

David Latina, 33, of 511 Highland Ave., was driving a 2009 Toyota Corolla in the southbound lane when at 9:53 p.m. he veered off the road on the right side and struck a rock ledge just north of the Exit 6 off ramp, said Sgt. Sal Calvo, a state trooper with the Troop F barracks in Westbrook.

The Corolla then rolled over and came to a final rest on the right shoulder, leaving the occupant trapped inside, according to initial reports.

Local fire and police responders arrived and a LifeStar helicopter was also called to the scene. Latina was airlifted to Yale-New Haven Hospital where he was pronounced dead, Calvo said.

Route 9 was shut down in Chester during the investigation and did not open until 12:30 a.m. The accident happened roughly two miles south of the border between Chester and Haddam.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Calvo said anyone with information should contact the investigating trooper, Robert Lanouette, at (860) 399-2100.