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Stamford Sports Scene

By CHASE WRIGHT

cwright@thestamfordtimes.com


STAMFORD -- A wife and mother of two was tragically killed in Stamford this past Sunday when the sports utility vehicle she and her family occupied veered off the road and crashed into a tree, state police said.

The family of four was traveling south, just north of Exit 35 on the Merritt Parkway, when the driver, David Debellotte, lost control of the vehicle after trying to change lanes, according to the police report.

The 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee then struck a wire rope guardrail on the right shoulder, slid down an embankment and struck a tree with its front end, causing the SUV to roll over. The vehicle finally came to rest after striking another tree with its right side and rear end, the report states.

The mother, Cloverlee Debellotte, 43, of Brooklyn, N.Y., sustained a traumatic brain injury and cardiopulmonary arrest. She was rushed to Stamford Hospital and later pronounced dead, according to the report.

Her 10-year-old daughter, Natifa, sustained a non-life threatening cut on her scalp and was also transported to Stamford Hospital. The other daughter, Netanya, 7, and the father, both sustained slight scrapes on their heads and were transported to Stamford Hospital as well. All were briefly treated there and released Sunday, said Stamford Hospital spokesman Scott Orstad.

Although still premature, the investigation has revealed that all occupants were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash and both the passenger and driver airbags deployed upon impact, said the primary investigating officer of the incident, Jack Kulig.

Despite what has been recently reported, the investigation indicates that no occupants were thrown from the vehicle after the accident, said Kulig.

Cloverlee Debellotte was pulled from the vehicle by a passing motorist, so she couldn't have been thrown from the SUV, he said.

It is unclear at this time where the family was traveling from and if they were heading back to their home in Brooklyn, N.Y., said Kulig.

Kulig and the state police are still investigating the incident.

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