By Justin Muszynski
Hartford Courant
LISBON, Conn. — A fire lieutenant in Lisbon was killed Sunday following a rollover crash in Preston that sent his pickup truck down a ditch and into a creek.
The crash was reported shortly after 5 p.m. on Route 164 in the area of Parks Road where 39-year-old Matthew Babcock was driving north in a 2003 Dodge Ram around a right curve in the road and lost control of the vehicle, causing it to slide into the southbound lane and strike a 2011 Toyota Camry, according to Connecticut State Police. The collision caused the Dodge to overturn into a ditch, where it settled on its roof partially submerged in a creek, state police said.
Babcock was pronounced dead at the scene, according to state police.
The driver of the Camry, a 21-year-old Griswold woman, suffered “suspected serious injuries” and was taken to Backus Hospital, state police said. A passenger in the vehicle, a 15-year-old girl from Preston, suffered minor injuries and was also taken to Backus Hospital, according to state police.
The state police CARS Unit and the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection responded to assist in the investigation. The state Department of Transportation helped with traffic control, as Route 164 was closed in the area of the crash for about six hours, state police said.
The crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information has been asked to contact Trooper Christopher Brett at 860-848-6500.
The Lisbon Fire Department on Monday identified Babcock as a lieutenant with the department who left behind a wife and three children.
“Matt was a dedicated member of the department for the past 12 years, involved in the planning and running of the annual Santa Run, Easter Bunny Parade, fire prevention and parading his love of the department Tanker 154 as well as the new fire station,” the fire department wrote in a Facebook post.
Babcock was involved in youth sports leagues in the area and events for both Lisbon and Griswold schools, according to the fire department.
A GoFundMe has been started to help Babcock’s family. His funeral services have not yet been planned, the fire department wrote.
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