Lieberman rival escapes injury as car strikes crowd

Emergency workers tended to victims at an Amtrak station in New London, Conn., yesterday after a car plowed into a crowd attending the annual Sailfest summer festival. (Jeff Evans / The (New London, Conn.) Day via The Associated Press)

3 staff members among 27 hurt
By Susan Haigh, Associated Press July 9, 2006

NEW LONDON, Conn. -- Ned Lamont, the Democratic challenger for US Senate and several of his campaign staff workers were in the crowd that a station wagon plowed into yesterday afternoon during the city's annual Sailfest.

Lamont was not injured, said a campaign spokeswoman, but three of the staff members were treated for injuries. In all 27, people were injured in the accident.

Lamont, who is challenging three-term incumbent Senator Joseph Lieberman in the Aug. 8 primary, was campaigning at the festival, said spokeswoman Liz Dupont-Diehl.

``Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who was hurt," Dupont-Diehl said.

The campaign workers' injuries included a broken leg, a fractured nose, and scrapes and bruises. Their names have not been released.

All the injured were taken to Lawrence and Memorial Hospital. Earlier reports indicated that there were two people with serious injuries, but hospital spokesman Kelly Anthony said everyone was expected to be treated and released by late last night.

The driver, Robert Laine, 89, of Wallingford, was not injured.

The accident occurred around 3:30 p.m. near an Amtrak station, where a crowd had gathered on both sides of the warning gates as a train passed. Witnesses said once the train departed and the gates lifted, the pedestrians and the Chevrolet Caprice wagon both began to cross.

Mayor Elizabeth Sabilia said the car was crossing the tracks to get to the Fishers Island ferry when it struck a pedestrian.

``He panicked," she said.

The car then lurched forward and drove through the crowd, which witnesses said was about four or five people deep. At least two people bounced off the car windshield.

``It hit. It just kept going," said Terrie Castagna of Sterling. ``I don't think anyone knew that a car was coming across. There was screaming, it happened so fast."

Castagna, 43, a former paramedic, helped with first aid until emergency crews arrived. She said Laine told her the gas pedal had stuck. ``He was shaken. He was in shock," she said.

Police said it was premature to speculate on a cause and they were interviewing witnesses and many of those struck. Investigators will also look at any video that may have been captured by surveillance cameras used by Amtrak and the Fishers Island ferry.

© Copyright 2006 Globe Newspaper Company.

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