Police Release IDs Of 2 Pedestrians Killed In Stamford Crash

STAMFORD, CT — Police said Sunday they have identified the two pedestrians who were killed while crossing Washington Boulevard early Saturday morning as Giovanni Vega Benis and Yuliana Arias Lozano — both 25 year-old Stamford residents.

Police also identified the driver as Michael Talbot, 24, of Greenwich. Criminal charges have not yet been filed against Talbot, said Sgt. Jeffrey Booth of the SPD's Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Squad in an update Sunday morning.

Booth noted that he has been in contact with the Stamford State's Attorney's Office. He stressed that the investigation is "multi-faceted" and will require multiple search warrants along with a detailed and in-depth analysis and reconstruction of the crash.

Several factors in the crash, including speeding and intoxication, are being investigated, Booth said.

Benis and Lozano were hit while walking across Washington Boulevard at Main Street by a 2022 Mercedes Benz driven by Talbot at approximately 2:05 a.m., Saturday, Booth said.

Benis and Lozano are believed to have been in the crosswalk when they were hit, Booth said. The status of the pedestrian control signal at the crosswalk is unknown at this time.

The force of the impact caused Benis and Lozano to be thrown into the northbound lanes of Washington Boulevard, Booth said. They were taken to Stamford Hospital where they were pronounced dead.

The Mercedes sustained heavy damage and continued for a short distance before stopping just north of the Stamford Government Center, Booth said.

Talbot fled from the scene on foot, but witnesses pointed out his direction to arriving police officers, Booth said.

Officer Nick Gelonisi found Talbot hiding behind a dumpster in the rear of a building on Relay Place, Booth said. Talbot was detained before being taken to Stamford Hospital for treatment of minor, non-life threatening injuries.

Anyone with further information is being asked to call the SPD's Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Squad at 203-977-4712.