The crash happened at approximately 4:40 a.m. in the area of exit 90, state police said.
A 24-year-old woman from Ludlow and her passenger were killed early Saturday morning after her car struck a tractor-trailer on Route 15, just north of Charter Oak Bridge in Hartford, Conn., state police said.
Connecticut state police said Brittany Mariani, of 32 Bowles Ave., was operating a Nissan Altima north when she struck a tractor trailer operated by Earnest Harris, 50, of Georgia.
The crash happened at approximately 4:40 a.m. in the area of exit 90, state police said. The tractor trailer had pulled over and was parked with flashing lights on when it was struck from behind, state police said.
Harris was not injured. Mariani was transported by ambulance to Hartford Hospital where she was pronounced dead. Her passenger, Rich A. Royster, 20, of Ossining, N.Y. was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
Seat belt use was not available.
Mariani and Royster were Central Connecticut State University students, where Mariani was a senior and Royster was a junior and a defensive lineman for the school’s football team, the Blue Devils. They were both psychology majors, according to university spokesman Mark Warren McLaughlin.
McLaughlin released a statement about the accident.
“We are deeply saddened by this terrible loss of promising young lives and we extend our warmest sympathies to Brittany’s and Rich’s families,” McLaughlin stated.
He said counselors will be available to students on Sunday, and throughout the week. Plans for a memorial are underway, McLaughlin said.