Tiara Wheeler Motorcycle Accident Groton, CT: 24-year-old daughter of basketball player, Tyson Wheeler killed in Groton motorcycle accident.
Groton Police are investigating a fatal crash involving multiple vehicles on Hill Road, Groton, CT.
According to the Town of Groton Police Department in a statement release, on Monday, August 28, 2023, at approximately 9:26 p.m., Groton Emergency Dispatch received several 911 calls regarding a multiple vehicle crash at the intersection of Long Hill Rd and Meridian Street Extension.
The crash was reported to involve a collision between multiple vehicles. Initial reports indicated that one of the occupants of one of the involved vehicles suffered fatal injuries and the other occupant of the same vehicle suffered serious physical injuries and was transported to Lawrence & Memorial Hospital for treatment, police said. The intersection remained closed to motor vehicle traffic while the accident was being investigated by Groton Officers and Detectives from the Criminal Investigation Division. Members of the Southeastern Connecticut Regional Traffic Unit also responded to the scene and assisted with the investigation.
In the statement release, upon further investigation of the accident, Groton Police Officers were able to determine a 2010 Audi Q7 being operated by Crystal C. Vinoya, 24 years old, of Groton, was traveling south on Long Hill Road, Groton. As Vinoya’s vehicle approached the intersection of Meridian Street Extension, it had a left green arrow allowing it to make a left turn into the Groton Shopping Center, 694 Long Hill Road. As Vinoya proceeded to turn left into the Groton Shopping Center, several dirt bikes and ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) were traveling north on Long Hill Road and into the intersection. The traffic light at this intersection for northbound traffic would have been red at this time. Witnesses reported the dirt bikes and ATVs were operating northbound, some with no lights on.
One of the dirt bikes with two riders on it entered the intersection and struck the right rear passenger section of Vinoya’s vehicle. The passenger of the dirt bike, later identified as Tiara Wheeler, 24 years old, of Norwich, was thrown from the dirt bike and struck the Audi causing fatal injuries at the scene, police confirmed.
The male operator of the dirt bike, identified as Scott Whipple, 25 years old of Mashantucket, also struck Vinoya’s vehicle and suffered critical injuries. Whipple was transported to L&M Hospital, New London for treatment, but then was airlifted to Yale New Haven Hospital where he remains in critical condition. The operator of the Audi, Vinoya, was transported to L&M Hospital to be evaluated and later released.
Further reports from the scene indicated some of the ATV and dirt bike riders removed the dirt bike that was involved in the crash from the scene without providing assistance to the two injured riders. Groton Officers had earlier observed, a group of riders operating recklessly on Long Hill Road and Route 12, doing donuts and popping wheelies in intersections and apparently attempting to bait officers into pursuing them, which officers did not do.
“We are appealing to the public for assistance with this case and urge anyone who may have information about this crash, the location of the involved dirt bike or the identity of any persons who were in this group of riders to contact the department,” Chief L. J. Fusaro said in a statement.
Besides the Groton Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID), police officers from the Connecticut State Police, Groton City Police Department, and East Lyme Police Department also responded to assist Groton Police. Other first responders who assisted Groton Police with the accident were the Poquonnock Bridge Fire Department, Groton Ambulance, Mystic River Ambulance, L&M Paramedics, and Electric Boat Ambulance. Also, the Southeastern Connecticut Regional Traffic Unit members who arrived on scene to assist in the investigation included officers from the Groton Police Department, Ledyard Police Department, and the Stonington Police. The intersection of Long Hill Road and Meridian Street Extension has since reopened.
This accident remains under investigation. If anyone witnessed this crash or has other information which would assist officers with this case, please call the Groton Police Department at 860-441-6712.
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