An up-and-coming Connecticut lawmaker has died in a horrific, fiery car crash.

State Rep. Quentin Williams, or "Q," was tragically killed in a collision with a wrong-way driver within hours of taking the oath of office, ABC News reported.

Lawmaker killed in car crash

The accident occurred after midnight Thursday on Route 9 in Cromwell.

Williams, 39, was driving southbound when 27-year-old Kimede Mustafaj, of Manchester, drove right into him while heading the wrong way.

The crash caused Williams' car to burst into flames, and his identity was later confirmed after an autopsy. He died of blunt impact injuries to the head and torso, the medical examiner found.

Mustafaj also was killed.

Connecticut in mourning

Williams was the first Black person to represent his hometown of Middletown in the state House. The child of a single mother, he had been pursuing a Harvard degree at the time of his death, the Daily Mail reported.

He was set to begin his third term and had recently been appointed co-chair of the Labor and Public Employees Committee.

The news of his untimely passing prompted an outpouring of grief from officeholders across the aisle. Democratic governor Ned Lamont called Williams a "genuine person" who was dedicated to the people of Middletown. The governor ordered state flags lowered in honor of Williams.

"This is devastating news, and I am incredibly saddened by this tragedy," Lamont said in a statement. "Quentin had an infectiously optimistic personality, and he absolutely loved having the opportunity to represent his lifelong home of Middletown at the State Capitol. Public service was his passion, and he was always advocating on behalf of the people of his hometown. He was a genuine person with a genuine soul, and he will be missed."

Up-and-coming lawmaker

The legislative business was also canceled on Thursday and Friday in Williams' honor, as his colleagues mourned the tragic loss. State Sen. Matt Lesser (D) called Williams a "beloved friend."

"As a legislator he was a passionate and committed public servant whose intellect and warmth made our state a better place and the General Assembly a better place," Lesser said in a statement.

Connecticut House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, a Republican, said Williams was a "young, emerging leader who deftly balanced forward-looking thoughtfulness with passion and charisma."

Williams is survived by his wife Carrissa.