Essex — A three-vehicle crash on state Route 9 left a wrong-way driver dead and a New London man seriously injured about 5:13 p.m. Monday, state police said.

Police said David Moran, 38, of Deep River drove his Subaru Legacy Outback the wrong way onto Route 9 south near Exit 3 and collided head-on with a Honda Element driven by Joseph Kaplowe Jr., 70, of New London.

Police said Moran died on scene. A Life Star crew took Kaplowe to Hartford Hospital with serious injuries.

A third driver, Geoffrey Fairbairn, 66, of Stonington was in the right lane behind the Honda Element. He tried to avoid the crash but clipped Moran's Subaru as he passed, police said. He wasn’t injured.

Crews closed the highway between exits 4 and 3 from 9 p.m. Monday to 1 a.m. Tuesday, the state Department of Transportation said.

Anyone with information about the crash, which remains under investigation, is asked to call Trooper Angello Balbuena of Troop F in Westbrook at (860) 399-2100.