Police have charged a teenage adult in connection with a crash in Newtown in August that led to the death of a college student and injured multiple other people, including two who were in critical condition.
Alexis Salazar, 19, of Danbury turned himself in on Tuesday on a warrant tied to an August crash that killed 19-year-old Mary Cordero, who was a student at Western Connecticut State University, according to Lt. Scott Smith of the Newtown Police Department.
He faces three counts each of third-degree assault and first-degree reckless endangerment and a single count each of first-degree manslaughter, tampering with physical evidence, providing a false statement, negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, reckless driving and passing in a no passing zone.
The charges stem from a crash on Aug. 24 on Route 34 around 2:41 a.m. when emergency crews responded to a single-vehicle crash just west of the intersection with Zoar Road, Smith said. The crash required mutual aid from multiple fire departments and ambulance companies after authorities found that there were multiple people who had suffered significant injuries.
An investigation found that the vehicle that crashed, a red 2017 Ford Mustang GT, was allegedly being driven west on Route 34 at a “high rate of speed” as the driver approached the intersection and failed to negotiate a left hand curve in the road, continuing straight, according to Smith. The Mustang then left the westbound side of the road before its front end struck a large tree, Smith said.
There were five people in the Mustang, including Cordero of Danbury who was pronounced dead at the scene, Smith said. She was found to be a passenger in the rear middle seat.
Four others in the Mustang were taken in ambulances to Danbury Hospital, Smith said. Two occupants suffered critical injuries, according to Smith.
The crash was investigated by the Newtown Police Department Detective Bureau and Accident Reconstruction Team.
“This investigation included diagramming the accident scene, obtaining multiple search warrants, speaking to witnesses, reviewing security cameras, among other investigative steps,” Smith said in a statement.
According to Smith, police obtained a warrant for Salazar’s arrest after he was identified as the driver. He is free on a $300,000 bond.
According to an obituary, Cordero was a student at WCSU who was working toward her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. She enjoyed nature and loved her cat and was an avid player of the saxophone.
“Playing the saxophone allowed Mary to meet the love of her life Christian Velis, together they have made memories to last a lifetime over the last three years,” the obituary states.
“Mary was everyone’s friend and put others before herself, she was selfless and only wished the best for everyone,” according to the obituary. “Mary was a person who would want to make amends with you, she would swallow her pride and apologize even if she wasn’t wrong. Mary never had an enemy; she was loved by all.”
