Police Seek Witnesses In Fatal Bicyclist Crash In Wallingford

WALLINGFORD, CT — Police are asking for help with identifying and locating several people they say may have valuable information in connection to the ongoing investigation of a fatal bicyclist crash that killed a Milford man earlier this year in Wallingford.

Donald A. Carrelli, 37, of Milford, was riding his bicycle around 3 p.m. on May 25 when he was struck by a vehicle driven by Derek C. Fries, 35, of Meriden. The crash occurred on South Turnpike Road about 175 feet north of its intersection with Toelles Road, immediately north of the North Haven town line, police said.

Fries was driving in the southbound lane on South Turnpike Road when the vehicle crossed over the double-yellow center line into the northbound lane and struck Carrelli, who was sent down an embankment, police said at the time. Several witnesses provided first aid to Carrelli, who was pronounced dead at Yale-New Haven Hospital a short time later, according to police.

Fries, who was arrested, allegedly told police at the scene that he had used heroin before the crash and officers seized two bottles of methadone, six capped syringes, two uncapped syringes and items containing a powdery residue, the Meriden Record-Journal previously reported.

In an update Tuesday morning, police said that during the investigation, it was discovered that a vehicle traveling behind the 2009 Honda Civic sedan that struck Carrelli was equipped with an on-board video camera.

“This camera not only captured the tragic event, but also captured activity surrounding the incident, both before and after,” Lt. Anthony DeMaio wrote in a news release. “When reviewing the video footage investigators saw two people get out of a vehicle that was traveling westbound on Toelles Road and approach the involved gray colored 2009 Honda Civic sedan that was stopped in the middle of the intersection of Toelles Road and South Turnpike Road. These two individuals are seen at the driver’s door of the involved Honda and appear to be speaking with the operator, who was later identified and arrested.

“Investigators are asking that the two yet unidentified passersby, who left the scene prior to the arrival of the police, contact the Wallingford Police Department Traffic Division as soon as possible. Investigators are hopeful that these passersby can be identified as they may be able to provide valuable information in the furtherance of this investigation.”

DeMaio said that investigators are also looking to identify a motorcyclist that was traveling northbound on South Turnpike Road out of North Haven, who stopped alongside the involved Honda sedan.

“In the video it appears that operator of the Honda sedan is taking items out of the Honda via the passenger side door and walking in to the nearby woods as the operator of the motorcycle is stopped alongside,” DeMaio said.

Wallingford Police are asking that these individuals, along with any other witnesses who may have had contact with the driver of the 2009 Honda Civic, to contact the W.P.D. Traffic Division and speak with Officer James Knowlton at 203-294-2818 or Lt. Anthony DeMaio at 203-294-2838.

Fries has been charged with second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, operating under the influence of alcohol/drugs, illegal possession of narcotics, possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to drive in proper lane. He was released after posting a $25,000 bond and his next court date is Aug. 1, according to state judicial records.