An accident that occured in Wilton Center at around 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8 left one person dead, according to witness and Police reports.
The driver, Wilton resident Raymond Kamaitis, 66 was killed in the accident.
The accident happened on Old Ridgefield Rd. near Peachwave Frozen Yogurt. An SUV hit a tree. Witnesses reported ambulances and multiple police officers were on the scene, and the road was closed for a few hours.
Wilton resident Melissa Calafell owns Renaissance Beauty, in the building right in front of where the accident occurred, at 134 Old Ridgefield Rd.. Calafell, a nurse, witnessed the accident from her storefront window and rushed outside to help. There were two passengers, a man and woman.
“He never put on the brakes. He just slammed into the tree right in front of my shop. From what his wife told me, he may have had a heart attack. She said that he slumped over,” Calafell wrote in a Facebook message to GMW. Calafell said she thought the woman was in shock, and that she tried to comfort and distract the passenger while she attended to the man, who was the driver of the car. Calafell said the man did not regain conciousness.
She stayed with the victims until the paramedics and police arrived.
Calafell added that it was very upsetting. “I can’t stop crying. First time, ever, I wasn’t in ‘Trauma Nurse Mode.’”
As we have more details, GOOD Morning Wilton will update.
UPDATE, 11 A.M.–The Wilton Police Department has released the following information:
“The Wilton Police Department responded to the area of 134 Old Ridgefield Rd. in Wilton Center last evening at 6:20 pm for a report of a serious motor vehicle accident. The first arriving officers located a 2012 Nissan Rogue (SUV) against a tree on the East side of the roadway with extensive front end damage. The air bags had deployed and there were two occupants in the front.
Upon checking the driver Raymond Kamaitis age 66 of 39 Boulder Brook Road, it was determined there were no signs of life and CPR was initiated. The front right passenger Leslie Cullen age 55 of 39 Boulder Brook Road, had significant injuries and was tended to by emergency personnel.
Both injured parties were transported to Norwalk Hospital where Mr. Kamaitis was pronounced deceased later that evening. Ms. Cullen was treated and admitted to Norwalk Hospital as a result of her injuries.
The vehicle driven by Mr. Kamaitis was travelling south bound on Old Ridgefield Rd. when it suddenly crossed into the northbound lane, drove onto the sidewalk and struck a tree on the East shoulder.
This area is located adjacent to the Wilton Library. Old Ridgefield Road was closed between Godfrey Place and the Wilton Library driveway for several hours while the Wilton Police Accident team investigated.
The Wilton Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Wilton Fire Department also responded.
Further investigation will be conducted and the accident investigation remains open.