IDs Of 4 Killed, Including 3 Brothers, Released After Car Crashes Into Waterbury Building

UPDATE: The victims in the crash have been identified by police.

The four killed in the accident were: Jayden Torres, 20, Nelson Torres, 25, Noel Torres, 15, and Johnaven Puszka, 20. All four were from Waterbury.

The Torres brothers—Kayden, Nelson, and Noel—were siblings, police said.

Puszka is also referred to as Jonathan by family, police clarified. Police also corrected the name of Jayden Torres.

An early police investigation found that the car was driving north on Baldwin Street when it crossed the intersection with East Main Street. The driver then lost control and the car struck the 35 Cherry St. business.

Cherry Street remained closed as of Thursday afternoon.

Original story

WATERBURY, CT — Four people were killed when a car crashed into a Waterbury convenience store early Thursday morning, according to police. Police believe speed played a role in the accident.

Police responded to a call at 12:47 a.m. reporting a car colliding with Hernandez Market, according to police. The building is at the corner of Cherry and Maple Street in Waterbury.

Three people were declared dead at the scene of the crash. A fourth person was taken to the hospital and later died, police said.

The driver of the car involved, a BMW, lost control before striking the building, according to WFSB 3-TV.

No one was inside the shop when it was struck, according to police.

Footage of the accident recorded by a neighbor shows the car overturned on its roof and engulfed in debris from the building, WFSB 3-TV reported.

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Part of Cherry Street was closed from East Main Street to Walnut Street "until further notice" due to the investigation, police said.

Waterbury Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo said in a press conference Thursday morning that surveillance footage showed that speed played a role in the accident, according to video on WTNH News-8.

Spagnolo said the investigation is in its early stages. Police have not released the identities of those killed in the crash pending notification of next of kin.

The mixed-use building was constructed in 1900 and was sold in October 2023 for $400,000, according to Hearst Connecticut Media.