New Haven Police Charge 3 With Manslaughter In 3 Fatal Crashes

NEW HAVEN, CT — Three New Haven residents were charged with manslaughter in connection with three fatal crashes in 2021 and 2022, police said.

Charles Artis of New Haven pleaded guilty to charges of first-degree manslaughter and evading responsibility resulting in death in December 2022 in connection with the brutal hit-and-run death of pedestrian Michael Santiago in 2021, the New Haven State’s Attorney said. On Feb. 16, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, suspended after 14 years.

On the night of Sept. 6, 2021, New Haven police officer Edrick Agosto responded to Chapel Street near the intersection of Norton Street to investigate a fatal hit-and-run.

According to police, New Haven State's Attorney John P. Doyle, Jr., and court records, Artis was driving west on Chapel Street near Norton Street when he struck Santiago as he was crossing the roadway. The force of the collision caused Santiago to vault over the roofline of the vehicle, break through the rear windshield and become lodged in the rear compartment of the vehicle, police said. Artis fled the scene and traveled for "eight minutes and 41 seconds with Santiago's body in the rear compartment of the vehicle," police said. He then stopped his vehicle along the side of Greenwood Street, pulled Santiago out of the rear compartment of the vehicle, and dragged his body onto the roadway near the curb, police said. Santiago died as a result of the injuries he sustained in the crash.

Through video surveillance, a Google Earth image of the vehicle, and an interview of Artis, Agosto was able to link the Pontiac G6 to Artis, police said. Artis' DNA was also found on the left inner forearm of the victim, police said.

On Feb. 7, 2022 just after noon, police said Laura Gonzalez, 49, was driving a Ford Windstar westbound on Chapel Street towards Central Avenue. At the intersection, Gonzalez struck a Honda Accord that was traveling southbound on Central, police said. The Honda Accord driver, Manuel Rodrigues, was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital and died soon thereafter of injuries sustained in the crash, police said.

Officer Rafael Ramirez conducted a lengthy and thorough investigation of the crash, police spokesperson Capt. Rose Dell said. On scene, two witnesses indicated that Gonzalez traveled through the red light at the intersection and caused the crash, Dell said. Members of the crash team located video surveillance that confirmed the witnesses’ observations, she added. Ramirez also obtained a search and seizure warrant and found that Gonzalez was under the influence of cocaine, marijuana, opiates, and fentanyl at the time of the crash, Dell said.

Gonzalez was arrested by warrant and charged with Manslaughter in the 2nd Degree with a Motor Vehicle, police said.

On March 11, 2022, at 1 a.m., Joseph Duarte, 50, was driving a Nissan Murano northbound on Middletown Avenue, when, at the intersection of Middletown and Flint Street, his vehicle struck a Toyota Scion, police said. "The force of the collision propelled the Toyota 114 feet north on Middletown Avenue," Dell said. The operator of the Toyota, Christian Sanchez-Martinez, was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital and was pronounced deceased, Dell said.

New Haven police Sgt. Savannah Smith conducted a thorough and extensive investigation including inspections of both vehicles, interviews with Duarte and witnesses, obtained multiple search and seizure warrants, and canvassed for vehicle surveillance, Dell said.

The reconstruction of the crash found that Duarte was going 86 MPH in a 25 MPH zone 2.5 seconds prior to impact, Dell said, exceeding the speed limit by over 50 MPH. A search and seizure warrant revealed Duarte was under the influence of alcohol, cocaine, and marijuana, Dell said.

Dell said that "Duarte caused the collision and the death of Christian Sanchez-Martinez by operating his vehicle under the influence of drugs and alcohol and in a reckless manner, indifferent to the risks his driving posed to human life."

Duarte was charged with Manslaughter in the First Degree, Manslaughter in the 2nd Degree with a Motor Vehicle, Misconduct with a Motor Vehicle and associated motor vehicle charges, Dell said.