Driver In Danbury Crash That Killed Bridgeport Cop Never Had License: Prosecutors

A Stamford woman has pleaded not guilty to several charges as prosecutors said she admitted she had never been issued a driver's license.

By Hayleigh Evans, Patch Staff

Aug 4, 2026 7:52 PM EDT | Updated Aug 4, 2026 7:53 PM EDT

Melissa Esperanza Ramirez, 27, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle and other charges in connection with the crash that killed a Bridgeport police officer and his passenger. (Danbury Police Department)

DANBURY, CT — Prosecutors said Tuesday that the Stamford woman charged in the crash that killed an off-duty Bridgeport police officer admitted she had never been issued a driver's license, while also addressing online misinformation that had confused her identity.

Melissa Esperanza Ramirez has pled not guilty to two counts of second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, operating under the influence, traveling unreasonably fast and failure to drive in the proper lane.

The 27-year-old was driving a Jeep Compass that police said was involved in a head-on crash with off-duty officer Cooper Whiteside's motorcycle on Sugar Hollow Road at 2:45 a.m. on July 13.

Whiteside and his passenger, Brittany Islami, were pronounced dead at the scene.

During a hearing at Danbury Superior Court on Tuesday, prosecutors said Ramirez admitted to police she has never had a driver's license.

Prosecutors also addressed speculation regarding Ramirez's identity following online misinformation surrounding the case.

Social media posts connected Ramirez to a registered voter in New Britain who shared the same name and birthday, stirring controversy because Ramirez was born in Mexico and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has issued an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer.

"After further investigation, it was determined that somehow, some way, there are databases throughout the system that had merged the personal information of Ramirez with the personal information of another person with a similar name and date of birth," Danbury State's Attorney Stacey Haupt Miranda said.

Miranda confirmed the state will add a charge of operating a motor vehicle without a license at a later date.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit previously released in the case, Ramirez was traveling 63 mph in a 45-mph zone before the crash. Investigators also determined her blood alcohol concentration measured 0.14% — nearly twice Connecticut's legal limit of 0.08% — and that she tested positive for cannabis following the incident.

Ramirez's next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 31.