Fatal 2022 Crash Results In 15-Year Sentence For Hartford Man: State

HARTFORD, CT — A Hartford man will spend 15 years behind bars for his role in a fatal vehicle accident in Hartford in 2022.

Sharmese L. Walcott, Hartford State’s Attorney, said Friday that Melvin Castro, 31, of Hartford was sentenced on Thursday by Judge David P. Gold to 15 years in prison, execution suspended after six and a half years served, followed by three years of probation, for a deadly 2022 motor vehicle crash in Hartford.

Castro pleaded guilty on Oct. 26, 2023, in Hartford Superior Court to second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle and second-degree assault with a motor vehicle.

Court records show on July 11, 2022, the Hartford Police Department responded to reports of a serious motor vehicle crash at New Britain and Fairfield avenues.

Walcott said an investigation revealed a Nissan Altima, driven by Castro, failed to stop at a red light and traveled through the intersection at a high rate of speed, estimated at 81 miles per hour in a zone with a speed limit of 30 miles per hour.

Castro’s vehicle then struck a Ford Focus driven by Jamal Randolph McCall, 33, of Hartford, who was transported to Hartford Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, she said.

The passenger also was transported to the hospital for treatment of serious physical injuries.

The investigation showed Castro had a blood alcohol concentration or blood alcohol concentration of .15.

In Connecticut, a person 21 years of age or over is considered to be legally intoxicated if they have a BAC of .08 or higher.

Castro also admitted to ingesting marijuana before operating the vehicle, Walcott said.

For more information on the sentencing, click on this link.