The scene in July off Roosevelt Drive (Route 34). This photo was posted by a reader on Valley Indy Facebook.
SEYMOUR — Police released a statement Wednesday saying that a 54-year-old Monroe woman intentionally drove her vehicle into the Housatonic River in July. The action resulted in her death, and the death of her 22-year-old son.
“The investigation revealed that Connie Crowell intentionally drove her vehicle into Lake Ousatonic,” according to a statement from Seymour Police Deputy Chief Roberto N. Rinaldi.
Lake Ousatonic is a section of the Housatonic River, which is next to Route 34/Roosevelt Drive.
Crowell and her son, John, both drowned, police said, after their vehicle became submerged. The crash happened off Route 34/Roosevelt Drive.
“After a lengthy investigation by the Seymour Police Detective Division, this incident has been determined (a) homicide/suicide,” according to Rinaldi’s statement.
The incident was reported to authorities at about 3:43 p.m. July 31 and prompted a large-scale rescue effort in the area of 179 Roosevelt Drive/Route 34.
According to emergency radio dispatches from that day, a Seymour police officer and two firefighters commandeered a person’s boat in order to reach the vehicle, which was upside down.
Friday’s statement from Rinaldi includes new information:
“On the day of the incident, a boater, who was in the area, observed the vehicle go into the water and went to assist and provide rescue efforts,” according to the statement. “The boater made numerous attempts to rescue the occupants of the vehicle. However, Connie Crowell refused to acknowledge or accept the boater’s assistance and rescue efforts.”
Rinaldi told The Valley Indy the car went into the river at 175 Roosevelt Dr., near a long driveway that leads to the river bank. He said police detectives spoke with two witnesses on the boat.
John Crowell, known as “Jack” to family and friends, had special needs and graduated from Masuk High School in 2017, according to a story by The Monroe Sun.
His mother was well-known for her work in Monroe for her efforts with Alcohol and Drug Awareness of Monroe (ADAM), according to The Sun.
Help Is Available
It’s important to note there is help available locally for people in crisis.
BHcare on East Main Street in Ansonia has a crisis hotline available 24 hours a day. The number is 203 736 2601 in Ansonia and 203 483 2630 in Branford.
A person needs to call the number, then simply press option 6. The hotline is staffed by a BHcare crisis clinician from 8:30 a.m to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
A call center can connect people after hours and on the weekends.
In addition, BHcare has the ability to dispatch a mobile crisis clinician to help people in need.
BHcare also offers a program through which members of the general public can learn how to recognize signs of serious distress and how to effectively intervene.
Outside BHcare, people can also call also 211 to ask for help, or the National Suicide Prevention hotline at 1 – 800-273‑8255.
