Fairfield student killed in accident while traveling home this summer

A Fairfield University student died in a car accident while driving home to Massachusetts over the summer, the university announced.

“It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of one of our students…,” university officials wrote in a statement, identifying the victim as Alexander Dennis.

“Alex had just completed his junior year here on campus and was on his way home to Massachusetts for the summer when the car accident occurred.”

Connecticut State Police declined Friday to say whether Dennis was the fourth person killed in a wrong-way crash on Merritt Parkway in Stratford in the early hours of Thursday.

State police said they received several reports of a wrong-way driver just before the vehicle, a 2016 Honda CR-V traveling north in the southbound lane, collided with a 2010 Chrysler Town and Country that was on was driving south in the right lane. The Honda burst into flames after the accident.

Three people in the minivan and the driver of the Honda were pronounced dead at the scene. State police identified the minivan’s occupants Thursday and said they could not immediately identify the Honda driver due to the “extent of injuries.”

According to the accident report, the driver of the Honda was a man. According to the report, the vehicle was registered to a Massachusetts resident who shared the same last name as Dennis.

“As a student in the College of Arts and Sciences, Alex was a visual and performing arts student with a particular interest in film,” Fairfield University officials said Friday.

“At a time of year when we are actively committed to celebrating our students and their achievements, a loss like this seems unimaginable,” Fairfield University President Mark R. Nemec said in a statement. “Those who knew and loved Alex will be particularly affected by his death, and his loss will be felt across campus.”

“Our Jesuit colleagues are available to our community, as are Campus Ministry and Counseling Center staff,” Nemec said. “The Employee Assistance Program can also be a helpful resource for employees during this time.”

University officials said Dennis’ life will be celebrated at a gathering in the fall when students return to campus.