Southington Police Sued over Fatal Crash

SOUTHINGTON, CT - New Britain resident Miguel Melendez, an injured passenger in a vehicle struck by an intoxicated driver, reportedly is suing the Southington Police Department for failing to stop the driver who caused the fatal crash.

The December 2015 crash killed Meriden residents Veronica Martinez, 7, and Yvette Martinez, 4, and was caused by Meriden resident Michael Luponio, according to police. His vehicle slammed into one driven the two girls' mother, Kayla Torres, on Middle Street in Bristol. Torres and others involved in the crash also suffered injuries.

According to the Meriden Record-Journal, Luponio sped past a Southington Police Officer Matthew Vose on Route 229 moments before the crash, and though the officer reportedly thought Luponio was speeding, he did not pursue the vehicle.

Among the reasons why Vose did not go after the vehicle was that he allegedly did not want to engage in a pursuit outside of the Southington jurisdiction. At least two witnesses observed the Luponio speeding, one of which had a bottle allegedly thrown at his car by Luponio, writes the Record-Journal.

Click here to read the full story on the Meriden Record-Journal website.

Photo of Yvette, left, and Veronica Martinez via GoFundMe.