3 dead after multi-vehicle hit-and-run on Route 15 in Stratford

STRATFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Three people died following a hit-and-run involving three vehicles on Route 15 early Sunday morning, according to Connecticut State Police. The crash happened near Exit 37 on the southbound side of the highway around 4:45 a.m. Preliminary investigation showed a 2012 Chrysler 200 and a 2008 Honda Civic were traveling in the right lane when a 2014 Lexus ES350 came up behind them and rear-ended the Honda Civic, causing it to rear-end the Chrysler. A fire occurred as a result of the collision, but state police did not say what caught fire. The driver and two passengers in the Honda Civic were pronounced deceased on scene. Two of them were identified by state police as Maria E. Vasquez Chacon, 29, of Trenton, New Jersey and Joselyn Vasquez-Chacon, 21, address unknown. The third person is listed as "unknown" in a state police report, which only identified them as female. The driver of the Lexus fled before police arrived and remains unidentified as of Monday. A wooden beam guardrail on the right shoulder of the highway also sustained about 10 feet of damage due to the incident. The collision remains under investigation. Anyone who witnessed it is asked to contact Trooper Smith at 203-696-2500 or [email protected].