State Police Charge Windsor Man For 2021 Wethersfield Double Fatal Accident

WETHERSFIELD, CT — A Windsor man was charged this week in connection with a horrific double fatal accident involving pedestrians in September 2021 on an interstate in Wethersfield.

Connecticut state police Thursday afternoon said Shawn Wright, 34, of 46 Hale Drive, Windsor, has been charged in connection with the fatal incident.

Police said he was charged with evading responsibility resulting in death and interfering with a police officer.

Wright turned himself in to state police at Troop H in Hartford at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, police said.

According to police, Wright was transferred to Hartford Correctional Center, where he was held on $30,000 bond and was scheduled for arraignment at New Britain Superior Court on Thursday.

Details released

In a lengthy release, state police released details of what they said happened on Sept. 19, 2021 and what, eventually, led to Wright's arrest.

Police said, at approximately 4:06 a.m. that day, Troop H Troopers were dispatched to Interstate 91 northbound in Wethersfield, prior to Exit 27, to investigate a report of a motor vehicle collision involving pedestrians.

Troopers determined four pedestrians had been involved in the collision and the involved vehicle had evaded the scene, police said.

Two of the injured pedestrians, identified as Alexis Murphy, 27, and Destiny Lopez, 22, were transported to Hartford Hospital via ambulance for treatment, police said.

Two additional pedestrians, identified by police as Alberto Gonzalez Jr., 47, and Kariel Torres, 25, sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene.

During the initial on-scene investigation, Troopers collected fragments belonging to the evading vehicle which were seized as evidence, police said.

Members of the Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad and the CSP C.A.R.S. Unit responded to assist with the investigation.

Using the fragments, investigators determined the involved vehicle was a 2002-04 blue Honda CRV, which had sustained damage to the driver’s side front, police said.

According to police, video surveillance footage from a nearby business was reviewed and showed a dark blue Honda CRV traveling on Brainard Road, in Hartford, without the front driver’s side headlight illuminated, shortly after the time the collision was reported.

On Sept. 20, 2021, Troop H was contacted by Hartford Police, which had received a call from a concerned citizen indicating a blue Honda CRV was parked in a location behind a Hartford residence, state police said.

Investigators responded and located a blue 2002 Honda CRV, partially covered with a tarp, with visible driver’s side front-end damage, police said.

State police said further investigation revealed the Honda CRV was actively registered to an owner/address in Windsor.

Troopers made contact with the registered owner of the Honda CRV, who indicated Wright had been in possession of the car on the date of the collision, police said.

Both the registered owner and Wright voluntarily agreed to meet with investigators.

During an initial interview, police said Wright indicated he was operating the Honda CRV that evening, which had experienced a mechanical issue, causing him to leave the vehicle parked at an address in Hartford.

Wright further explained he had borrowed a second vehicle and traveled to New York, where he had stayed overnight, police said.

On Sept. 21, 201, the registered owner of the Honda CRV and their legal representative met with investigators, police said.

The owner, according to police, explained that morning, Wright had communicated to the registered owner he had been involved in an accident while operating the Honda CR-V.

During a subsequent meeting with Wright and his legal representative, Wright said during the early morning hours of that day, he had been operating the Honda CRV on I-91 northbound, in the area of Exit 27.

Based upon the above information, as well as other information, Troopers applied for and were granted a warrant for the arrest of Wright, police said.

For the Connecticut State Police news page, click on this link.