A missing Connecticut woman died in Chester Heights accident, state police say

State police at the Media station issued dozens of press releases at one time on Wednesday and one of them included a fatal accident from five weeks earlier.

Troopers gave this account:

Officers came upon a  running vehicle at a closed business on Route 1 in Concord Township on Sept. 7 at 1:14 a.m.

Troopers checked the registration on the car and found it belonged to a woman with a disability who was reported missing in Connecticut the previous day.

Troopers approached the vehicle and observed an unresponsive female behind the wheel. They tapped on the window and she immediately exhibited signs she was undergoing a mental health episode.

The troopers asked to help her but she immediately put the car in drive and sped away.

Troopers followed and attempted a traffic stop at which point the woman put the car into reverse and struck a patrol vehicle and again fled the scene on Route 1 eastbound in the westbound lanes.

According to investigator Tyler O’Sura’s report, the fleeing driver then drove back into the eastbound lanes in a reckless manor, ignoring the patrol vehicles and their emergency lights and siren.

Troopers continued to follow until the car crashed head on into a traffic light support at Valley Brook road. The driver was thrown from the car.

The woman was identified as Valerie King, 50, New Haven. She was pronounced dead at the scene.