COLCHESTER, CT — A tragic Colchester pedestrian accident claimed the life of a 49-year-old man early Friday morning, according to Connecticut State Police. The fatal incident occurred on Deep River Road (Route 354) near Daniel Drive around 1 a.m., when the victim, identified as Shawn M. Schulze, was struck by a vehicle while walking along the road.
State police reported that Schulze, a Colchester resident, was walking westbound when a 2008 Honda Civic, driven by a 57-year-old Oakdale man, struck him. Schulze was thrown to the eastbound shoulder and sustained severe injuries. Emergency responders transported him to Backus Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead despite efforts to save his life.
The driver suffered minor injuries and was also taken to Backus Hospital for evaluation. Police noted that the area where the crash occurred lacked auxiliary street lighting and pedestrian crosswalks. Schulze was reportedly wearing dark clothing at the time, which may have contributed to the accident.
Deep River Road was temporarily closed near Jan Drive for the investigation, which is ongoing. Authorities are seeking witnesses or individuals with dashcam footage. Anyone with information is urged to contact Trooper First Class Gregory DeCarli at Troop K in Colchester at 860-456-5400 or by email at gregory.decarli@ct.gov.
This Colchester pedestrian accident highlights growing concerns about pedestrian safety in poorly lit and unmarked roadways throughout Connecticut.
