Meriden Man Pleads Guilty In Fatal Bicyclist Crash In Wallingford

MERIDEN, CT — A Meriden man will be sentenced in March after pleading guilty to manslaughter in connection with a fatal bicyclist crash that killed a Milford man last May in Wallingford, according to the Meriden Record-Journal.

The Record-Journal reports Derek Fries, 35, pleaded guilty this week to second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle in a plea deal that would cap his sentence at eight years, suspended after four years, followed by three years’ probation if the judge accepts it. Fries was originally charged with second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, operating under the influence of alcohol/drugs, illegal possession of narcotics, possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to drive in proper lane.

Donald A. Carrelli, 37, of Milford, was riding his bicycle around 3 p.m. on May 25, 2019 when he was struck by a vehicle driven by Fries. The crash occurred on South Turnpike Road about 175 feet north of its intersection with Toelles Road, immediately north of the North Haven town line, police said.

Fries was driving in the southbound lane on South Turnpike Road when the vehicle crossed over the double-yellow center line into the northbound lane and struck Carrelli, who was sent down an embankment, police said at the time. Several witnesses provided first aid to Carrelli, who was pronounced dead at Yale-New Haven Hospital a short time later, according to police.

Fries, who was arrested, allegedly told police at the scene that he had used heroin before the crash and officers seized two bottles of methadone, six capped syringes, two uncapped syringes and items containing a powdery residue, the Meriden Record-Journal previously reported.

Read more about this week’s court hearing at the Meriden Record-Journal here.