Car going wrong way responsible for Rt. 9 crash

State police say a 75-year-old Wethersfield woman who drove the wrong way is responsible for an accident that killed her and shut down Route 9 in Berlin for hours.

State police say the incident which occurred around 10 a.m. Aug. 26 was caused when Bette Lawton entered the southbound lanes of the highway at exit 22 and sideswiped one car, collided head-on with a second and struck a third vehicle.

A Tilcon cement mixer struck one of the vehicles as the driver lost control, causing the large truck to roll over near the guardrail, while nearly full of cement. Lawton died of her injuries and at least five other people were injured.

The highway was shut down for several hours and didn't reopen until about 4 p.m.  Two LifeStar helicopters were landed on the highway which was closed to southbound traffic.

State police are in charge of the incident and Berlin Police Department and local fire departments assisted at the scene.