CT state police ID 2-year-old girl who died following crash, Connecticut River rescue
State police have identified a young girl who was killed Monday after leaving the scene of a car crash on Route 9 in Cromwell with her mother and later being rescued from the nearby Connecticut River.
The child was identified Wednesday as Deroyal Miller of Cromwell who turned 2 last Friday, according to Connecticut State Police. Deroyal was pronounced dead Monday night at an area hospital after she and her mother, 24-year-old Devoni Miller, left the scene of a car crash on Route 9 hours earlier and made their way down an embankment adjacent to the Connecticut River, state police said.
“The death of the child is deemed suspicious and remains under investigation,” state police said Wednesday.
According to state police, the crash was reported at about 5:20 p.m. on Route 9 North in the area of Exit 25. Troopers allege that Devoni Miller was driving a Hyundai Sonata SE south on the Exit 25 on-ramp to get onto Route 9 when she struck the rear bumper of a Kia Forte driven by a 59-year-old Rocky Hill woman.
The Hyundai then crossed the center median of the highway and headed into the northbound lanes before hitting a metal guardrail, according to state police.
Responding troopers found the Hyundai unoccupied and began an extensive search of the area upon learning the driver left the scene with her young child and walked down a nearby embankment, state police said. The driver of the Kia took herself to Middlesex Hospital for a suspected minor injury, according to state police.
About two hours after the crash, authorities found Devoni Miller walking along Route 9 North. She was taken to Middlesex Hospital to be evaluated.
Shortly thereafter, Deroyal Miller was found unresponsive in a rocky area of the Connecticut River. She was rescued from the water and taken to Middlesex Hospital. She was pronounced dead at about 9:23 p.m., state police said.
Deroyal’s body was taken to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy. The office on Wednesday said the results of the autopsy are “pending further studies.”
Members of the Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad are investigating the crash and subsequent suspicious death. State police are seeking witnesses to the crash, anyone whose dashcam footage may have captured something pertinent or witnesses who may have seen “anything suspicious” on the Connecticut River.
Anyone with information has been asked to contact Det. James Bria at james.bria@ct.gov.