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Michael Reilly of Wallingford, 20, died Monday, Oct. 25 when his car was involved in an accident with a tractor-trailer on I-95 near Exit 46 in New Haven.
According to police, on Monday around 2:15 a.m., Reilly was driving a Kia Optima behind a tractor-trailer. When the truck entered a construction area and slowed down, police said Reilly's car struck the truck's rear-end.
Reilly was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the tractor-trailer was reportedly uninjured.
After graduating from Lyman Hall High school in 2019, Reilly worked at Under Armor in Clinton where "his co-workers meant so much to [him] and were like his second family," according to his obituary. Reilly was a basketball player in Wallingford for many years and played often with his friends.
At the age of 2, Reilly was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, which he had survived and fought over the last 18 years, according to his family.
"Michael especially loved his time at Waters Edge in Westbrook, walking to Salt Island during low tides, sitting on the deck listening to music," reads Reilly's obituary, which was written by his brother Joseph. "He was an avid gamer and made many friends from all over the world especially Luis from Texas. He was a huge New England Patriots fan."
Reilly's family has established a GoFundMe to cover his funeral expenses. As of Wednesday, Oct. 28, they had raised $300 of their requested $10,000.
State Troopers of the Troop G Bridgeport barracks are still investigating the cause of the accident; anyone with information is asked to call the police at (203) 696-2500.
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