Multi-State Traffic Fatalities
Multiple Fatal Crashes and Collisions Reported Across Several States Over the Weekend
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Connecticut State Police said the Mansfield crash occurred around 5:30 a.m. at Beacon Hill Drive and Mansfield City Road. Lloyd Braman II was riding a Harley-Davidson when it tipped and entered a slide; he was partially separated from the motorcycle and later airlifted to a hospital.
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In Natchez, the collision forced police to close the roadway between Highland Boulevard and Briarwood, and authorities had not released the motorcyclist’s name pending notification of the family.
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Grand Junction police said the scooter victim was found unconscious on a sidewalk near Westland Avenue and D Road shortly after midnight; the woman was taken to a hospital, where she later died. The Mesa County Coroner’s Office will identify her and determine the cause and manner of death.
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The Springfield, Missouri, fatal crash occurred around 4 p.m. near the intersection of Glenstone and Chestnut, but police had not released further details.
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In the Henrico County crash, police said the Lexus driver was attempting to turn right into a parking lot on West Broad Street when Neal’s Toyota pickup struck the Lexus from behind; investigators are seeking additional witnesses and tips.
At least six people have died in a wave of motor vehicle crashes spanning seven states over the past two weeks, involving motorcycles, cars, utility terrain vehicles, and scooters. Connecticut State Police said 50-year-old Lloyd Braman II died after his Harley-Davidson lost control in Mansfield on August 29, while a 17-year-old Kansas football player, Dylan Higgins, was ejected from a UTV near Wamego early Sunday morning. Additional fatal crashes are under investigation in Virginia, Mississippi, Colorado, Missouri, and Illinois.
The crashes involve drivers and riders of various ages and vehicle types sharing roadways. Authorities cite speed, distracted driving, impaired driving, and lack of safety equipment as contributing factors in several incidents. Henrico County Police noted that a 69-year-old Virginia driver who died in a rear-end collision on September 11 was not wearing a seat belt, which may have worsened his injuries.
Kansas UTV Crash Kills Wamego High Student
Dylan Higgins, a 17-year-old senior at Wamego High School and defensive back on the football team, died early Sunday after a UTV lost control near Wamego shortly before 1 a.m. Higgins was ejected from the vehicle during the crash. His passenger, Emily Crocker, 16, suffered minor injuries, and driver Harry Costa, 18, was unhurt. The Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident.
Connecticut Motorcyclist Dies After High-Speed Slide
Lloyd Braman II, 50, of Coventry, Connecticut, died after his Harley-Davidson motorcycle lost control and slid across Beacon Hill Drive in Mansfield on August 29 around 5:30 a.m. Connecticut State Police said Braman was partially separated from the motorcycle during the crash. He was airlifted to a hospital but later died from his injuries.
Rear-End Collision Kills Virginia Driver Without Seat Belt
Paul Roger Neal, 69, of Columbia, Virginia, died on September 14 from injuries sustained in a rear-end collision on West Broad Street in Henrico County on September 11. Henrico County Police said a Toyota pickup truck struck a Lexus sedan from behind while the Lexus driver was turning right into a parking lot. Neal was not wearing a seat belt, which investigators said may have increased his injury severity. Police cited the pickup driver for following too closely.
Hit-and-Run and Impaired Driving Cases Under Investigation
In Grand Junction, Colorado, Grand Junction Police are investigating a fatal hit-and-run involving a motorized scooter. An unconscious female scooter rider was found near Westland Avenue and D Road shortly after midnight on September 13. She was taken to a hospital, where she later died. The Mesa County Coroner's Office will identify her and determine the cause of death.
In Natchez, Mississippi, Natchez Police arrested a woman on suspicion of impaired driving after her vehicle struck and killed a motorcyclist. The roadway was closed between Highland Boulevard and Briarwood during the investigation. Springfield, Missouri Police are also investigating a fatal crash that occurred around 4 p.m. near Glenstone Avenue and Chestnut Expressway on September 13, with no additional details released. A UTV rollover in Liberty, Illinois, hospitalized a juvenile driver with moderate injuries and resulted in a citation.
Safety Factors: Speed, Equipment, and Impaired Driving
The crashes reveal common risk factors. Henrico County Police emphasized that lack of seat belt use contributed to severe injuries in the West Broad Street collision. Several incidents involve young drivers operating recreational vehicles like UTVs on rural roads, where these vehicles lack standard roadway stability controls. Impaired driving is suspected in at least one fatal case in Mississippi.
Authorities across multiple jurisdictions stress preventive measures: wearing seat belts, avoiding excessive speed, and not driving impaired. Young drivers—who represent several of the crash victims and injured parties—face heightened risks when operating unfamiliar or less stable vehicles. Communities affected by these crashes, particularly Wamego, Kansas, are providing grief counseling and support services to students and families.
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