An off-duty firefighter pulled a driver from a burning vehicle after it struck multiple trees in Voluntown, but the driver died at the scene

By Jessica Bravo
New Haven Registe

VOLUNTOWN, Conn. — An off-duty firefighter extricated a Norwich man who was later pronounced dead Sunday night at the scene of a fiery crash into the woods in Voluntown, police said.

The victim was identified as 54-year-old James R. Orowson, Jr., Connecticut State Police said in a news release on Monday morning.

| MORE: I’m a firefighter, I can help: Getting involved when off-duty

Troopers responded to the single-vehicle crash involving a Honda Civic on Beach Pond Road, also known as Route 138, around 7:30 p.m., police said. The sedan, which was being driven by Orowson, left the roadway and hit multiple trees before coming “to an uncontrolled final rest within a driveway,” police said.

Police said the off-duty firefighter stopped to help and pulled Orowson from the car that caught on fire after the crash.

The crash remains under investigation, police said.

Police ask anyone with information on the fatal crash to call CSP Tpr. Christopher Brett #691 at 860-848-6500.

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