Last week’s head-on collision on U.S. Route 50 East of Bridgeport that saw two individuals facing life-threatening injuries appears to have as positive of a conclusion as could be expected. According to Bridgeport Police Department Deputy Chief Randy Hartley, the individuals were set to be released from Ruby Memorial Hospital Monday.

 

“That was the last report we had,” said Hartley. “We were told that they were going to get to go home.”

 

The couple was described by Bridgeport Police Officer M.P. Hammond as an elderly husband and wife from Grafton. Both had to be removed from their silver Pontiac Grand Prix. The female was the first to be removed and was taken directly to Ruby Memorial Hospital when helicopter service was unavailable due to the weather. The husband was cut from the vehicle with the Jaws of Life device. He was initially transported to United Hospital Center before later being taken to Ruby Memorial, Hammond said.

 

The accident took place shortly after noon last Tuesday. The Pontiac Grand Prix collided head on with a silver GMC 4x4 pickup truck. Bridgeport Fire Captain Phil Hart confirmed that the injuries were life threatening at the scene.

 

Hammond said multiple witnesses stated that the Grand Prix went left of center, which led to the collision. The driver of the truck suffered only minor injuries and was treated on the scene and refused medical transport. His truck suffered major front end damage, but the entire front end of the Grand Prix was significantly damaged.

 

Route 50 was then shut down in that area for nearly three hours. Accident reconstruction officers were brought in to investigate the scene. There has been no official word on that investigation, which can take several weeks at times to complete.

 

“I was on traffic control duty at the time to allow for the accident reconstruction to take place,” said Hartley. “From all reports from those on the scene it was a horrible accident and everyone is pleased that there were no fatalities. From the information I’ve gathered, they also both appear to be leaving the hospital without any long-term problems as a result of the accident, which is certainly very good news.”