Wrong-way driver charged in fatal crash

WATERBURY, Conn. (WTNH) -- An arrest has been made in a deadly crash after some questions over who was behind the wheel.

A Waterbury woman said she was the passenger and the victim who died in the crash was driving, but investigators say they found out that wasn't true.

"I remember hearing the screams, help me, help me, she is too heavy, I can't get her out," said accident victim Donna Pelletier. "I couldn't help anybody, I couldn't even stand up."

Pelletier remembers that February night, it's clear in her mind. The first car came straight at her, driving the wrong way on I-84. Pelletier narrowly missed that car, but couldn't avoid a second wrong-way driver.

"I thought I was going to die right there, because I couldn't take a breath in or out," said Pelletier, "I think it was from the air bag."

Two wrong-way drivers and two separate accidents.

Police say Kaleigh Morgan was behind the wheel of the first car, which also crashed. Her passenger, Amanda Grenier, died in the accident.

At the time, police believed Grenier was driving, based on statements provided by Morgan.

"It makes me angry," Pelletier said, "very angry, I was out of work for a while and the pain was incredible."

Police say things didn't add up and after eight months the investigation took a turn. DNA put Morgan behind the wheel. She has now been charged for second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, DUI, and hindering an investigation.

"It's a sad lesson. She watched her friend die that night, she died on the highway, she watched it," said Pelletier. "I don't want to see her do jail time. I think she should do some community service for Mothers Against Drunk Driving or something like that, or go to the high schools and speak to them about what happened."