House Democratic leaders said Thursday that a Connecticut state representative was killed overnight in a wrong-way highway crash. He had just been to the governor’s inaugural ball and his own swearing-in ceremony for a third term.
Quentin Williams, a Democrat from Middletown who was known as “Q,” died in the crash on Route 9 in Cromwell. He was 39. The state police said that both drivers were killed and that one of the cars caught on fire.
The names of the victims have not been made public yet by the state police. Speaker of the House Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, and Majority Leader Jason Rojas, D-East Hartford, said in a statement that Williams’ family had told them that the lawmaker had died.
Connecticut state Representative Quentin Williams was killed by reckless driver hours after swearing-in. RIP 🙏🕊 pic.twitter.com/mfy9V6MTRO
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) January 6, 2023
“I am in shock,” Ritter said. “Q was my dear friend and I am scarred by his sudden loss. We will have time to reflect on Q as a legislator in the weeks to come, but right now I deeply mourn my friend and send all of my love to Carrissa, Queen and Q’s family. We will all miss Q.”
Because of this, the Legislative Office Building was closed and there were no legislative activities on Thursday. Gov. Ned Lamont told the flags to be lowered to half-staff.
Williams is the new co-chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee of the General Assembly. A biography on his legislative website says that he was the first African American to represent Middletown in the General Assembly.
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Williams was Middletown’s city treasurer before he was elected to the legislature. Before that, he was in charge of the city’s planning and zoning commission.
His website says that he went to schools in Middletown, got a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Bryant University, and got a master’s degree in public administration from Villanova University. The mayor of Middletown, Ben Florsheim, said in a statement that Rep. Williams really lived up to the phrase “larger than life.”
Hundreds turn out for a #Middletown vigil in memory of state Rep. Quentin “Q” Williams. A friend says from the time he was in grade school, Q would always ask, “How can I help?” pic.twitter.com/3bwdgtQlBH
— Dave Mager (@DaveMagerNews) January 7, 2023
“His laugh, smile, and presence were felt in every space shared with him. His passing is a true loss for our community. A light has been dimmed today.”
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