The crash took place in Hartford County in West Hartford around 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6 near Exit 44.
According to the Connecticut State Police, the driver killed was identified as Natalia Dudzinski, of Bristol, along with the toddler, Malika Scott, who would have turned 3 years old in just weeks.
Police said a 2007 Volkswagen Jetta, driven by a 30-year-old North Carolina woman, was driving in the left lane when "for an unknown reason," she lost control, crossed the grassy median, entered the left lane, and collided with Dudzinski's 2017 Subaru Impreza.
The impact sent both vehicles into the center lane where they slammed into a commercial truck, and all vehicles came to a rest, state police said.
Dudzinski and the toddler were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Jetta sustained suspected minor injuries. The truck driver was not injured.
Police did not say if Dudzinski and the toddler were related.
The case remains under investigation.
Any witness to the collision is asked to contact Trooper Michael Dean at 860-534-1098 or through email at michael.dean@ct.gov.
If you have a vehicle equipped with a dashcam, and you were driving through the area at the time of the collision, you are also asked to contact Dean.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Worcester and receive free news updates.