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Troy Bree, of Groton, surrendered to police on Tuesday, March 25. He is charged with wrong-way driving on a highway, second-degree manslaughter, misconduct with a motor vehicle, and reckless endangerment, according to Connecticut State Police. He is being held on a $1 million bond.
Police say Bree’s Cadillac ATS was traveling north in the southbound lanes of I-95 when it slammed into 47-year-old Mark Palumbo Jr.’s Ford Mustang around 10 p.m. on Oct. 9, 2024.
The Madison father died at the scene, and Bree suffered minor injuries.
The crash occurred between Exits 66 and 65 in Westbrook. It’s unclear how long Bree had been driving the wrong way, but multiple witnesses told police they were forced to swerve to avoid a collision, authorities said.
Troopers noted that Bree appeared intoxicated and failed a field sobriety test. Blood drawn at a hospital later revealed his blood-alcohol concentration was .22 — nearly three times the legal limit of .08, State Police said.
Bree admitted to drinking three mixed vodka drinks with dinner and taking cold medicine before driving. However, surveillance video from the restaurant showed he had at least five drinks, investigators said.
He paid for 13 alcoholic beverages at the bar, though it’s unclear whether those included drinks for others in his party, authorities said.
Palumbo is survived by his wife, his two daughters, and the business he founded — Madison Avenue Hair & Skin Salons, according to his obituary. Loved ones said his family was the most the important thing in his life.
A GoFundMe campaign for Palumbo’s wife and daughters—then just 2 and 4 years old—has raised more than $109,000.
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