WILLINGTON, CT — A warrant shows that the driver of a Hyundai Elantra involved in an November 2024 crash in Willington that killed his passenger was loaded with drugs.
The warrant was issued last week and charged 34-year-old Jonathan Sutter with second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, driving under the influence, following too closely, reckless driving and failure to wear a seat belt.
The crash took place Nov. 20, 2024 at about 3:15 p.m. on the eastbound side of the highway near Exit 71, state police said.
According to a crash report, a UPS tractor-trailer was in the right lane and a 2015 Hyundai Elantra was behind it. The Hyundai began to merge into the center lane, but hit the driver's side rear bumper on the truck in the process and began spinning before coming to a rest in the center lane, according to a crash report.
The passenger of the Hyundai, identified as 39-year-old Gennese Alicea of Southbridge, MA, suffered fatal injuries in the collision, according to a crash report.
According to a warrant, the truck was doing 48 mph at the time of the collision and that the Hyundai approached the truck at between 84 and 91 mph before hitting it.
The 63-year-old man from Worcester, MA, who was driving the truck was not seriously hurt, according to a crash report.
According to a warrant, Sutter admitted to injecting himself with fentanyl early that day and also ingested crack cocaine a bit later that day and a toxicology screening proved it to be true.
Sutter's initial $250,000 bond was knocked down to $100,000 at a May 27 arraignment and he failed to post it. He remained in custody this week while awaiting a June 26 court date, according to judicial system records.
Sutter told investigators he has been trying to come clean for some time, according to a warrant.
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