Superior Court Jury Finds Man Guilty of Manslaughter In 2022 Fatal New Haven Motor Vehicle Crash

NEW HAVEN, CT — A Superior Court in New Haven found Joseph Duarte, 54, guilty of manslaughter in a fatal 2022 drunk driving crash that claimed the life of a 28-year-old West Haven man, according to State’s Attorney John P. Doyle, Jr.

Duarte, of New Haven, was convicted of second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, misconduct with a motor vehicle, and illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Doyle said evidence introduced at trial showed that on March 11, 2022, at 1:00 a.m. at the intersection of Middletown Avenue and Flint Street in New Haven, Duarte operated a 2014 Nissan Murano while under the influence of intoxicating liquor and caused the death of Christian Sanchez-Martinez.

Doyle said Duarte had an elevated blood alcohol content of 0.11 at the time his vehicle struck the victim’s Toyota.

"The event data recorder retrieved from the vehicle the defendant was operating that night showed he was traveling at speeds of 86 mph 2 ½ seconds before the crash," Doyle said.

Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 22.

The case was investigated by Lt. Savannah Smith of the New Haven Police Department and prosecuted by Senior Assistant State's Attorney Jennifer Lindade, with the assistance of Inspector Michael Mastropetre, Investigator Dietrich Hernandez. and Victim Advocate Brandi Madaric.