DANBURY – Two people died in a crash on Sugar Hollow Road near the Ridgefield city line early Monday morning, according to authorities.
At 2:45 a.m., Danbury Police responded to a collision involving a Jeep Compass and a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The Jeep sustained significant front-end damage; the motorcycle was found lying in the roadway. The driver of the Jeep was transported to Danbury Hospital with serious injuries.
The two motorcycle riders, identified as Cooper Whiteside, 38, of Danbury, and Brittany Islami, 34, of New Milford, were pronounced dead at the scene.
The accident prompted the Danbury Police Accident Investigation Team to secure the area for reconstruction and evidence collection, leading to lane closures. Sugar Hollow Road was closed from Bennetts Farm Road in Ridgefield through Miry Brook Road during the investigation.
The roadway was reopened to traffic before 1 p.m., authorities reported.
Whiteside was also a member of the West Redding Volunteer Fire Department, where he held various roles, including firefighter and lieutenant. The department expressed condolences, stating, “He will be greatly missed.”
Police advised drivers to use alternate routes, including George Highway and Route 53, during the closure.