Wethersfield Man Charged In Farmington Fatal Crash: Police

FARMINGTON/WETHERSFIELD, CT — A Wethersfield man will appear in court next month after being charged in connection with a fatal accident on Interstate 84 in Farmington on Jan. 12.

Connecticut State Police said Carlos J. Serrano, 44, was charged with illegal operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs/alcohol on Jan. 12.

According to online court records, Serrano has been released on $45,000 bond after initially appearing in court on Jan. 13.

His next court appearance is slated for Feb. 10 in Hartford Superior Court.

Serrano is accused of starting a chain reaction collision that ultimately claimed the life of Eloi Batista Da Silva, 29.

Police said Da Silva was driving a Honda Civic that was involved in a violent, six-vehicle crash on I-84 in Farmington.

The chain-reaction crash featured an initial collision on I-84, one sending the Da Silva's Civic across the median and into the opposite side of the expressway.

Police said Da Silva's Civic was traveling on I-84 East near Exit 36 when a 2014 Toyota Corolla being driven by a Serrano crashed into the Civic.

This sent the Civic through the left lane, then the center median, and into the left lane of I-84 West in the other direction.

That is where the Civic was slammed by a 2021 Toyota Tacoma double cab pickup truck being driven by a 63-year-old Waterbury man.

This, police said, caused a chain reaction crash involving three other vehicles on I-84 West, all of which became disabled.

While Da Silva was pronounced dead at the scene, police said only minor injuries were reported with all of the other victims on that side of the highway.

Police were able to locate Serrano and his Corolla and had it towed away. According to police, Serrano reported not being injured in the collision.

The initial accident report indicated Serrano evaded the scene after the crash, but he was not charged with evading, according to police and court records.

From Jan. 13: 'Victim Killed In Violent Crash In Farmington Identified: CSP: UPDATE'