25-Year-Old Stamford Residents Remembered As Kind, Helpful

STAMFORD, CT — Giovani Vega Benis and Yuliana Arias Lozano — the 25-year-old Stamford residents who were killed on Dec. 3 after getting hit by a car in downtown Stamford — are being remembered by their family members and co-workers for their kindness, smiles and hard work.

Vega and Arias had finished working at Cantina Mexicana on Summer Street and went to Curley's Diner together to grab a late-night bite to eat on Dec. 3, according to Vega's cousin, Ruth Sanchez.

Shortly after at around 2:05 a.m., the two were walking each other home and crossing Washington Boulevard at Main Street when they were struck by a 2022 Mercedes Benz driven by 24-year-old Michael Talbot, a Greenwich resident, police said.

"From what I understand, the guys from Cantina [Mexicana] always took turns walking Yuliana home halfway," Sanchez said. "They weren't at a club drinking, they weren't at a bar drinking. They were at Curley's having a late night dinner like everybody does in Stamford, and they were walking home from work and they got killed. That doesn't make sense."

Police said Vega and Arias are believed to have been in the crosswalk at the time of the collision. They were pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said Talbot fled on foot, but he was apprehended after officers found him hiding behind a dumpster.

Vega was born in the United States — a son of immigrant parents from Mexico. He had been working at Cantina Mexicana for several months, and was enjoying life with his 6-year-old twin sons, Sanchez said.

"Giovani was a person who didn't want problems. Out of all of our cousins, he was the person who had the biggest heart," Sanchez said. "Anything that he could help out with, he would. He was always there for us. He always had a smile on his face, no matter what the situation was."

When Vega's father died in January of this year, Sanchez said Vega stepped up to help his mother.

"He was my aunt's right hand. He was there for everything," Sanchez added.

Arias, a native of Colombia, had only been in the United States for about eight months, her co-worker Elia Hernandez said.

"Yuliana was super kind and super nice. She was a very hard worker, and she dedicated a lot of her time here. She was always so helpful, never selfish and she always wanted to share with everybody," Hernandez said.

Arias always offered to do her co-workers' hair before work.

"She liked to take care of us girls," Hernandez said. "Giovani was like a big brother to me. He always called me his 'little one' every time I saw him."

Charges have yet to be filed against Talbot. Frustration has grown in the community in recent days, with calls for justice on social media.

An online petition has been signed by members of the community asking for action from police. As of Wednesday afternoon, more than 26,000 people had signed it.

Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons released a statement last week, and offered condolences to the families and friends of the victims, and called the incident "a devastating tragedy for our community."

She also urged patience as police work through the reconstruction of the collision and other investigative logistics.

"While we understand the frustration of those who think the driver should have been arrested on the day of the incident, there is due diligence and a process that must be followed in fatal crash investigations," Simmons said. "I want to assure the families that the city, the Stamford Police Department, and my administration will do everything we can to support you during this difficult time and ensure that justice is served."

Sanchez said she hopes justice can be served soon.

"I want to believe in the Stamford Police Department — I really do. I want justice to be brought," Sanchez said. "We shouldn't have to be waiting for so long."

Both Sanchez and Hernandez said they appreciate the support from the community over the past 11 days. GoFundMe campaigns for Vega and Arias were created to help the families with funeral costs, and candlelight vigils were held last week in Stamford.

"We are tremendously grateful that the whole community is supporting us, even people who don't know us," Sanchez noted. "It's been something tremendously touching to all of us. We're just very thankful."