Elderly driver injured after car strikes tree in Hartford

HARTFORD — An 80-year-old Essex woman was seriously injured after her car veered off Interstate 89 and struck a tree on Dec. 26.

Joanne Irwin was traveling southbound near mile marker 2 around 2:23 p.m. when her 2017 Volvo V60 left the road, entered the median, and collided with a tree, according to the Royalton Barracks troopers.

The weather was clear, and the road conditions were described as black top.

Irwin, who was wearing a seat belt, told authorities she fell asleep at the wheel.

The vehicle was totaled in the incident.

Emergency personnel from Hartford Police, Fire and EMS units responded to the scene along with the Agency of Transportation.

The injured driver was transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire with suspected serious injuries.

The crash remains under investigation.