Driver Critically Injured in Meriden Crash: Police

MERIDEN, CT — A 23-year-old Meriden man was critically injured early Friday when the car he was driving slammed into two telephone poles, two parked cars and a house on Colony Street, according to police.

Julian Melendez suffered head and chest injuries in the 1:14 a.m. crash in the 400 block of Colony Street. He remains in critical condition at Hartford Hospital where he was transported after the collision. There were no passengers in the vehicle, and no other injuries were reported.

When emergency personnel arrived on the scene, Melendez was trapped inside the 2007 Honda Civic, and he had to be extricated by firefighters.

"The initial investigation shows Mr. Melendez traveling north on Colony Street at a high rate of speed," wrote Acting Captain Thomas Cossette in a statement. "He failed to negotiate a slight bend in the road and struck a telephone pole located in front of 405 Colony Street. The vehicle continued on and struck another telephone pole as well as a parked Toyota Solaris in front of 409 Colony Street. The force of the collision caused the other vehicle struck to travel approximately 20 feet and strike a third vehicle. The Honda went airborne after striking the Toyota Solaris and struck a house located at 409 Colony Street causing minor damage."

The crash temporarily knocked out power in the area for approximately 30 minutes, but was restored by a crew from the utility company Eversource.

"This accident is still under investigation by the Meriden Police department’s accident Reconstruction Unit," added Cossette, who urged that anyone with additional information contact him at 203-630-6256.

Photo: Colony Street in Meriden where the crash occurred. Photo credit: Google Maps