FAIRFIELD, Conn. (WTNH) — Two of the five Sacred Heart University students who suffered serious injuries in last week’s crash near campus have been released from the hospital, according to Fairfield police.
Police said a 2018 black Audi and a 2021 white Toyota Corolla had collided just after midnight Friday at the intersection of Jefferson Street and Park Avenue. Officers arrived on the scene and found the Audi on its roof.
“The black Audi was going eastbound on Jefferson Street, and the Audi appeared to hit a curb, which pushed it into the westbound lane, and the crash occurred right there on Jefferson Street,” Fairfield police Lt. Ed Nook said at a press conference Friday morning.
Four female freshmen were passengers inside the Toyota Corolla driven by an Uber driver. The driver of the Audi, a sophomore at Sacred Heart University, was in the car by himself, authorities said. All of the students are from out of state.
As of Monday, two of the freshmen have been released from Bridgeport Hospital, police said. Another freshman remains in critical but stable condition at Bridgeport Hospital, and the fourth is in critical but stable condition at Saint Vincent’s Hospital.
The sophomore student involved in the crash remains in critical condition, police said.
The Uber driver is an older man who remains in critical but stable condition at Bridgeport Hospital, according to police.
Gary MacNamara, the university’s director of public safety, said the severity of the injuries could mean some were not wearing a seatbelt. Police said they are working to determine how fast the drivers were going and whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash.
The video below is from News 8 at 10 p.m. on Oct. 1, 2023.
MacNamara said counseling is available for all campus community members and families.
“Students are worried sometimes about tests and homework and what this does to affect their education, so we want to extend to the families that we are there as a blanket over them for whatever they need, not only today, tomorrow but onward,” he said.
The university canceled some morning classes so students and faculty could gather for prayer service Friday morning in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit.
Parents were on campus Saturday for family weekend. Students said the crash was still on everyone’s mind.
“Everyone is not in the same mood they were three days ago. It’s completely different,” Dillon Wilson said.
Wilson and Jonathan Mendizabal saw the aftermath of the crash and were shocked to learn their suitemate was driving the black Audi.
“I was in the room. We were just chilling. It just came out of nowhere,” Mendizabal said.
They said their suite was less than a minute from where the crash happened.
A spokesperson for Uber released the below statement to News 8 after the crash.
“Our thoughts are with all those injured in this shocking crash. We’re working to get in touch with the driver and the rider involved to check in with them.”
This is a developing story. Stay with News 8 for updates.