Update: Cheshire Wrong-Way Driver Causes Crash, West Hartford Police Officer Hurt

Update at 5:30 p.m.:

A Cheshire woman driving the incorrect way on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in Meriden near the exchange with Interstate 91 caused a serious four-vehicle accident that sent three people to the hospital Wednesday morning, according to state police.

At 9:45 a.m. Janice A. Tasko, 70, was driving her 2009 Chevy Aveo south in the northbound side of the roadway and sideswiped a tractor-trailer truck driving the correct way on the route, according to Connecticut State Police. The truck, driven by Sandy Martinez, 42, of Stratford, jackknifed.

Swerving to avoid the collision, David Santora, an off-duty West Hartford police officer riving behind the tractor-trailer tried to maneuver his 2012 Hyundai Elantra out of the way, but instead collided head on with Tasko’s vehicle causing both vehicles to lose further control. Santora’s vehicle then collided with a 2005 Honda Civic being driven Philip Click, 50, of Westport.

Santora, Tasko, and Click were responsive at the scene, but suffering from serious, non-life threatening injuries emergency personnel arrived, according to state police. All had to be extricated from their vehicles and were taken to Hartford Hospital; Tasko was taken by Life Star helicopter, while Santora and Click were transported by ambulance.

According to West Hartford police, Santora is being treated for non-life-threatening leg and rib injuries.

Martinez was not injured, according to police.

Interstate 91 and Route 15 (the Wilbur Cross) were closed during the accident investigation. The interstate reopened about 45 minutes later and traffic began to flow again on Route 15 by 1 p.m., according to police.

The accident remains under investigation.

Orginal Story:

Two cars and a tractor trailer were involved in a crash along Interstate 91 in Meriden Wednesday morning that left three people injured.

The crash happened shortly before 10 a.m. near exit 17 and forced emergency officials to close down I-91 and the Wilbur Cross Parkway.

Life Star helicopter responded to the crash and reports indicate as many as three people were injured.

WTNH is reporting that an elderly woman driving in the wrong direction caused the crash.

According to the Hartford Courant, one of the drivers injured in the crash is a West Hartford police officer.