City of Stamford, CT
12/09/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/09/2022 09:14
Mayor Caroline Simmons Releases Statement Regarding the Recent Fatal Motor Vehicle vs. Pedestrian Collision
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Stamford
Thursday, December 8, 2022
Contact:
Lauren Meyer
203-977-5115
MAYOR CAROLINE SIMMONS RELEASES STATEMENT REGARDING THE RECENT FATAL MOTOR VEHICLE VS. PEDESTRIAN COLLISION
STAMFORD, CT - Mayor Caroline Simmons released the following statement regarding the motor vehicle collision that occurred in the early morning on Saturday, December 3rd at the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Main Street and resulted in the deaths of the two pedestrians.
"I want to offer my deepest condolences to the families of Giovani Vega Benis and Yuliana Arias Lozano," said Mayor Simmons. "This is a devastating tragedy for our community and my thoughts and prayers are with their friends and family during this difficult time. While we understand the frustration of those who think the driver should have been arrested on the day of the incident, there is due diligence and a process that must be followed in fatal crash investigations. I want to assure the families that the City, the Stamford Police Department, and my administration will do everything we can to support you during this difficult time and ensure that justice is served."
The Stamford Police Department is actively working this investigation with the assistance of the Stamford States' Attorney's Office. Mayor Simmons and Director of Public Safety Lou DeRubeis have been in communication with the States Attorney Paul J. Ferencek, who is in agreement with the steps that have been taken and the direction of the ongoing investigation.
Stamford Police Chief Tim Shaw stated that Sgt. Jeff Booth is the lead on this investigation. Sgt. Booth has been investigating fatal crashes for 20 years and has been the supervisor of the Crash Analysis Reconstruction Squad (CARS) since 2019. Sgt. Booth has a close working relationship with the States' Attorney's Office, and they have been constant contact since this crash took place.
"During fatal crash investigations, prematurely arresting an operator can potentially hinder the chances of a successful prosecution. Search warrants, lab work, and reconstruction are elements to a fatal investigation that must be completed before an arrest warrant can be applied for," said Sgt. Booth.
The City will continue to work with local and state partners to make Stamford's streets safer for pedestrians to avoid future tragedies.