A quiet Thursday evening turned into a total nightmare on a local highway ramp. A young life with so much promise was cut short in an instant. The community is now dealing with an incredibly heavy loss.
Leilani Rochelle Robinson was only 18 years old. She lived in Norwich and had her whole life ahead of her. She was driving her car when everything went wrong in a matter of seconds.
She was a well-known face around the area. Leilani recently graduated from the New London High School Multi-Magnet Campus. People knew her as a standout individual who brought a ton of energy wherever she went.
She excelled in everything she did at school. She was an All-State cheerleader and a talented track athlete. Her coaches and teammates remember her as a bright spot on the team.
The timing of the accident makes the heartbreak even worse for her family. Leilani was just three days away from celebrating her 19th birthday. Instead of planning a celebration, her loved ones are now mourning.
The crash happened on the Montville Connector on-ramp to Interstate 395 north. Her 2006 Lexus ES 330 suddenly left the road. The vehicle ended up striking a tree on the side of the ramp.
First responders found her unresponsive at the scene. Authorities are trying to figure out exactly what caused the car to veer off course. They want anyone who might have seen the crash to contact state troopers.
