by A tragic incident unfolded in Ledyard late Thursday night, resulting in the death of a 27-year-old man named Aaron Baldwin Jr. from New London. The sequence of events began when a vehicle, carrying Baldwin as a backseat passenger, was pulled over for speeding on Route 12 just after 9:35 p.m.
The driver, a 23-year-old woman from New London, made the ill-fated decision to flee the traffic stop, accelerating away at a dangerous speed. Witnesses reported seeing the vehicle recklessly passing other cars as it headed north on Route 12, drawing the attention of law enforcement.
Minutes later, multiple calls came in reporting a rollover crash near Holmberg’s Orchard on Route 12. Responding officers quickly identified the vehicle involved in the crash as the same one that had evaded them moments earlier. The driver and another passenger, a 28-year-old woman from Waterford, managed to exit the vehicle on their own.
Unfortunately, Baldwin was not as fortunate and had to be extricated from the wreck. All three occupants were rushed to Backus Hospital in Norwich, but Baldwin tragically succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.
The Regional accident Investigation Team has taken over the case, urging anyone with information to reach out to the Ledyard Police Department. The community is left mourning the loss of a young life and grappling with the consequences of reckless driving. Let this serve as a somber reminder of the importance of road safety and responsible decision-making behind the wheel.
