Preston

- Once their shift ended Wednesday, Joseph Arnott and Billy Shea walked out of Foxwoods together, chatting about the latest efforts to negotiate a union contract at the casino.

Twenty minutes later, around 8 p.m., the 61-year-old Arnott was killed in a crash on Route 2.

”He got out at twenty to eight,” said Shea, who is an assistant supervisor at the casino. “He asked me, 'What's going on with the union?' Five minutes later, he was dead.”

News of Arnott's death spread through the casino Thursday morning, Shea said. An Oakdale resident, Arnott was a dealer.

”So many people here are just crushed by it,” Shea said. “To come to work and find out that one of your best friends is gone, we're taking it very hard.”

Barry Cregan, interim president of Foxwoods, issued a statement Thursday expressing the casino's sympathies to Arnott's family and friends.

”He worked here at Foxwoods as one of our dealers and I am sure he will be missed,” Cregan said in a statement. “When an accident like this happens it affects all of us. It was truly an unfortunate incident and we want all the individuals involved to know that our thoughts are with them during this time.”

Four vehicles were involved in the fatal crash and several people were injured.

Police said that Mitch Leaghi, 50, was driving east on Route 2 when he swerved into the westbound lane.

Leaghi, of 33 Occum Lane, first struck a vehicle driven John Leblanc, 76, of East Hartford. Leaghi then continued in the westbound lane, striking Arnott, police said.

Arnott lost control of his car and was struck by a Peter Pan bus carrying nine Foxwoods employees at the end of their shifts. The bus was traveling behind Arnott.

Arnott was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Leaghi was taken to The William W. Backus Hospital with serious injuries. He was listed in serious condition Thursday. Leaghi is an employee at Mohegan Sun, according to state gaming records.

Keicia McCarty, 42, the driver of the bus, and three passengers were taken to Backus with minor injuries.

A Chinese interpreter was sent to the scene to talk to the bus passengers about the crash, according to the state police. The interpreter then accompanied the passengers to the hospital.

The crash is under investigation.

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