Greenwich Man Charged In Double-Fatal Stamford Pedestrian Crash Appears In Court

STAMFORD, CT — Michael Talbot, the 24-year-old Greenwich man accused of killing two Stamford residents in a hit-and-run crash last month, was arraigned in Stamford Superior Court on Tuesday afternoon.

Talbot was arrested with the help of the Collier County Sheriff's Office in Florida on Jan. 5 on an arrest warrant that charged him with two counts of second-degree manslaughter; two counts of second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle; felony evading responsibility; operating under the influence; and reckless operation, police said.

Talbot was extradited back to Stamford on Jan. 13, police said, and held on a $1 million bond.

The Stamford Advocate reported that Judge Kevin Randolph deemed Talbot a flight risk and a "potential danger to the community" during an arraignment proceeding in Stamford on Tuesday. Randolph raised Talbot's bond to $1.75 million.

According to the state of Connecticut Judicial Branch website, Talbot has previous convictions related to reckless driving and evading responsibility.

On Dec. 3, 2022, Giovani Vega Benis and Yuliana Arias Lozano had finished working at Cantina Mexicana on Summer Street and went to Curley's Diner together in downtown Stamford to grab a late-night bite to eat, 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 Talbot, police said.

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.

Talbot fled the area on foot, but he was apprehended a short time later after officers found him hiding behind a dumpster on Relay Place, police said.

The Advocate reported Tuesday that Talbot was driving 86 mph at the time of the crash. The posted speed limit is 25 mph.

Charges weren't initially filed against Talbot in December, causing outrage in the community as residents demanded action from police.

An online petition calling for the Connecticut State Attorney to file charges has garnered nearly 30,000 signatures to date.

Police said they needed time to piece together the crash and apply for search warrants, and that speeding and intoxication were being looked at as factors. Mayor Caroline Simmons urged patience as the SPD worked through the investigation.

On Tuesday ahead of Talbot's court appearance, Simmons held a press conference at the Stamford Government Center and released a statement.

"My thoughts and deepest condolences remain with the families of Giovani Vega Benis and Yuliana Arias Lozano as they continue to seek justice for their loved ones. I commend the Stamford Police Department for their due diligence and outstanding work, and I want to thank the State’s Attorney’s Office for their assistance throughout this investigation," Simmons said.

Stamford Asst. Police Chief Silas Redd asked the community to keep the families of Vega and Arias in their thoughts.

"On the outset of this investigation, the police department along with the mayor's office remained steadfast in asking for patience because of all that's required in these types of investigations," Redd added, noting that "it's imperative" such investigations are handled thoroughly.

Sgt. Jeffrey Booth of the SPD's Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Squad said fatal crash investigations require search warrants for things like DNA samples and blood tests.

"It takes a little bit of time to get all these results back from the state lab," he said.

When asked how to increase roadway safety, especially on Washington Boulevard which has had one of the highest rates of pedestrian fatalities, Simmons said a speeding sign was installed recently to encourage motorists to slow down.

The city hopes to secure a roadway safety audit, as well as funding to implement safety measures on roadways, Simmons said.

Earlier this month, Stamford's newly-formed Vision Zero Task Force outlined initiatives they hope will increase roadway safety around Stamford.

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