A Greenwich resident, identified as William Saleeby, 62, was killed early Sunday morning in a wrong way crash on the Hutchinson River Parkway. The crash happened around 5:00am, just over the Connecticut state line in Rye Brook, NY.
Jose Espinal, of Bridgeport, of Bridgeport has been charged with Vehicular Manslaughter 2nd degree and DUI. According to the criminal complaint, Mr. Espinal told police he had consumed alcoho, had been looking at his cell phone at the time of the crash and knew he was driving the wrong way.
At Thursday's Board of Selectmen meeting, First Selectman Camillo requested a moment of silence in memory of Mr. Saleeby.
"He was a volunteer for many decades in town. We keep him and his family in our thoughts and prayers," Camillo said.
Mr. Saleeby, one of six siblings, graduated in 1980 from Greenwich High School where he played on the football team along with Steve Young. He went on to graduate from Harvard University, where he also played football.
Mr. Espinal was traveling south in the northbound lanes of the highway at the time of the crash. He was arraigned in court on Monday and is due back in court this Friday in Westchester.
Mr. Saleeby's car burst into flames as a result of crash. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mr. Espinal was extricated from his vehicle and taken to the hospital before being charged.
The crash investigation by the County police Accident Investigation Team and detectives from the General Investigations Unit continues.
The issue of wrong-way crashes, some resulting in fatalities, have made headlines in Connecticut in recent years.
Close to home, on Wednesday, a Bronx, NY woman was arrested and charged in a wrong way crash involving five vehicles on I-95 in Stamford.