Willis Sands Death – A member of the Gardner Lake Volunteer Fire Company was struck and killed by a driver Sunday evening while crossing the street near the firehouse after a trunk-or-treat event, the state police said.
State police identified the person killed as 69-year-old Willis Sands, who they described as a member of the local volunteer fire agency. His specific position in the volunteer fire agency was not immediately released.
State police said Sands was struck on Route 354, also known as Old Colchester Road, around 7 p.m. Sunday. The section of road was dark and had no “auxiliary lighting” or marked crosswalks, state police noted.
Sands was leaving a trunk-or-treat event and was walking across the road when he was struck, state police said. The driver was heading north on Route 354 in a 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan minivan, state police said.
State police said the 43-year-old driver and her passenger, a 53-year-old man, were not injured in the collision. The driver was taken to Backus Hospital for evaluation following the crash, the agency said.
Anyone with information can contact Trooper First Class Greg DeCarli #1090 at Troop K by calling 860-465-5400.