Groton Crash: Driver Ejected After Car Hits Multiple Road Signs

This article looks at a tragic Thanksgiving Day crash on I-95 in Groton, Connecticut. The accident claimed the life of a Pawcatuck man.

It draws from law enforcement details and local roadway context. Investigators have shared what they know so far and why this stretch of highway seems especially risky, especially during the holidays.

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Communities across the state—Groton, Pawcatuck, Hartford, New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford, Norwich, and New London—are feeling the weight of these risks. Holiday travel always seems to come with a little extra worry, doesn’t it?

Thanksgiving Crash on I-95 in Groton Claims One Life

State police from Troop E in Montville responded to a fatal single-vehicle crash on I-95 in Groton on Thanksgiving Day near exit 89. The collision happened on the exit ramp, a spot where drivers often have to slow down in a hurry, especially with holiday traffic piling up.

When troopers got there, they found a 2019 BMW X3 flipped over on the right shoulder of the ramp. The SUV had hit several roadside objects before stopping, leaving the scene a mess of debris and twisted metal.

Victim Identified as Pawcatuck Resident

The driver, Derek Curtis, 35, of Greenhaven Road in Pawcatuck, was thrown from the vehicle during the crash. Emergency crews tried to help, but Curtis died at the scene.

No one else was in the car.

For people in Pawcatuck, Groton, Norwich, and New London, the news hit especially hard. It’s tough to process something like this on a holiday that’s supposed to be about family and gratitude.

Even a routine drive on I-95 can turn deadly in a split second.

What Authorities Know So Far About the I-95 Collision

Connecticut State Police say the 2019 BMW X3 struck several road signs, an illumination pole, and other roadside structures before flipping over. The SUV ended up on the right shoulder of the exit 89 ramp, a spot that sees plenty of local and through-traffic along the shoreline.

No other vehicles got involved. Right now, police haven’t released details about the cause, speed, weather, or whether impairment played a role.

Ongoing Investigation by State Police Troop E

Troop E continues to dig into what led to the fatal crash. They’re working through the usual steps:

Reviewing evidence at the scene, like tire marks and vehicle damage

Checking the car’s mechanical condition—brakes, steering, that sort of thing

Looking for witnesses who might’ve been on I-95 or the exit 89 ramp

Searching for any relevant surveillance or traffic camera footage

Waiting on the medical examiner’s findings, which could shed more light on what happened

Serious crashes on I-95 in places like Groton, Old Saybrook, Bridgeport, and Stamford often lead to a formal reconstruction. Investigators try to map out the SUV’s path, speed, and last moments before impact.

Holiday Travel Risks on Connecticut’s I-95 Corridor

I-95 through coastal Connecticut—places like Groton, New Haven, and Bridgeport—is easily one of the state’s busiest highways. On holidays like Thanksgiving, traffic swells as people head out to see family and friends.

Exit ramps, like exit 89 in Groton, can turn dangerous fast. Drivers have to drop from highway speeds to ramp speeds, sometimes in darkness or bad weather.

Road signs, light poles, and guardrails are there to guide and protect, but in a high-speed crash, they can become hazards themselves. It’s a tough balance—safety features that sometimes can’t stop a tragedy.

Safety Reminders for Connecticut Drivers

The cause of this crash is still under investigation. State and local officials across Connecticut—from Hartford to New Haven, Stamford to Norwich—keep repeating a few key safety tips for drivers, especially around the holidays:

Slow down on exit ramps and when you approach interchanges or spots with lots of lane changes.

Always buckle up; seat belts cut the risk of being thrown from the car in a rollover.

Put away distractions like phones, in-car screens, or anything that pulls your eyes off the road.

Plan for holiday traffic and give yourself extra time so you aren’t tempted to rush.

Watch the weather, especially along the shoreline where fog and rain can pop up fast.

For people in Pawcatuck and Groton to New London and beyond, this Thanksgiving tragedy really hits home. Conditions on I-95 can change in an instant, so it’s worth taking every precaution when you’re driving.

Derek Curtis’s loss weighs on his community. State police want anyone with info about the crash near exit 89 in Groton to reach out to Troop E. They’re hoping to understand what happened—and, honestly, to help keep something like this from happening again on Connecticut’s roads.

Here is the source article for this story: Car Crashes Into Multiple Road Signs, Driver Thrown From Car In Groton, State Police Say

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