Mourners from across the state came together in Middletown Friday night to remember a beloved state lawmaker. Rep. Quentin Williams was killed in a wrong-way crash on the way home from Gov. Ned Lamont's inaugural ball.

"The state representative was not going to be his last title. I could definitely see him running for governor or even a Senate race," said Erica Hunter.

Constituents say they are shocked by this sudden loss and say Williams was a respected leader in their city.

"When I heard the news, I cried like a baby. Because I go to Cross Street Church with him, with Pastor Harvill. It's so sad," said Eunice Jackson.

Many people called him Q. One of his Middletown neighbors was Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz.

"Q would want us to be there for each other because he was always there for this community," said Bysiewicz.

Williams was a passionate progressive, but he brought political opponents together. The state House speaker said even in grief, Q's work will go on.

"We have to grieve and we have to help this family. But we have to do more than just the next 10 days. There's a legacy that we have to leave," said Connecticut House Speaker Matt Ritter.

The crash happened early Thursday morning on Route 9.

Williams was on his way home from Lamont's inaugural ball when state police say a wrong-way driver hit his car head on.

Both drivers died.

Williams helped revitalize Middletown. He ran the Downtown Business District and launched Middletown Restaurant Week.