By Justin Muszynski
Hartford Courant
FARMINGTON, Conn. — The family of a teenager killed in Farmington last October when the vehicle she was riding in was involved in a collision with an ambulance is suing both drivers and the ambulance company.
The lawsuit, filed earlier this month in Hartford Superior Court, contends that both drivers were reckless and negligent during a crash on Route 4 on Oct. 23, 2023, leading to the death of 19-year-old Cassidy Lawlor of Glastonbury.
Lawlor was a passenger in a pickup truck being driven west on Route 4 by Alexander J. Vassiliou when the truck was involved in a collision with an ambulance being driven by Caitlin Abrantes, according to the lawsuit filed by attorney John J. Houlihan Jr . of Hartford -based law firm RisCassi & Davis. Abrantes, who was driving an ambulance east on Route 4 with its lights and sirens on, attempted to make a left turn in the area of the Interstate 84 off-ramp and allegedly drove directly in the path of Vassiliou, causing a collision, the lawsuit states.
Lawlor was flown via LifeStar to Hartford Hospital after the crash. According to the lawsuit, she suffered blunt force trauma to her head and neck as well as her extremities and torso. She died in the hospital more than a month later on Nov. 26, 2023.
“The carelessness and recklessness of both operators in this case is stunning,” Houlihan said in a statement. “The ambulance was turning in an illegal location, and the driver of Cassidy’s car should never have been driving that fast in that intersection.”
The lawsuit alleges that Vassiliou was driving “at a rate of speed greater than is reasonable” and that he failed to move over for an emergency vehicle. The vehicle he was driving was also “underinsured,” according to the lawsuit.
Vassiliou was arrested by the Farmington Police Department in August on charges of negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, possession of a controlled substance, illegal possession of a weapon in a motor vehicle and other motor vehicle violations. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, according to online court records.
The case is pending in Hartford Superior Court, where Vassiliou is scheduled to appear on Nov. 12 . He is free from custody, court records show.
The lawsuit alleges that Abrantes — who has not been charged — made a turn directly in Vassiliou’s path when “such a turn could not be made with reasonable safety.” It also contends that she allegedly failed to yield the right-of-way when the pickup truck was “within the intersection, or so close to the intersection as to constitute an immediate hazard. …”
The lawsuit names Vassiliou, Abrantes, American Medical Response, Inc., Lawlor’s auto insurance company, USAA General Indemnity Company and Middlefield resident Angela Caravello, who owned the vehicle Vassiliou was driving.
The civil action seeks more than $15,000 in damages, citing the ambulance, hospital, funeral and burial expenses Lawlor’s family incurred.
Requests for comment were not immediately returned by AMR and USAA.
According to an obituary, Lawlor was a Glastonbury native and a member of the Glastonbury High School Class of 2023.
“Cassidy was fortunate to have lasting friendships from her time playing soccer, gymnastics, swimming, and seemingly making friends wherever she went,” the obituary said.
Lawlor had an “infectious personality” and a “vigor for living life,” according to the obituary.
In addition to local friendships, she also had friends from her annual family vacations to Cape Cod every summer, the obituary said.
“It was a time she always looked forward to; a chance to spend time with family and reconnect with friends while at the beach,” the obituary states.
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