Executive Summary
- A 13-year-old driver and a young female passenger died in a Sunday morning crash in New Haven.
- Mayor Justin Elicker confirmed the vehicle involved was a stolen 2019 Hyundai Elantra.
- The crash occurred on Whalley Avenue after the vehicle struck a tree near a local synagogue.
- Police had attempted to stop the vehicle following a near-collision with a patrol cruiser.
A 13-year-old boy driving a stolen vehicle and a female passenger of a similar age were killed in a single-car crash in New Haven, Connecticut, early Sunday morning, according to city officials.
Mayor Justin Elicker confirmed the details during a press conference on Wednesday, stating that the identities of the deceased would be formally released by the Connecticut State Police. The crash occurred shortly before 5 a.m. on Whalley Avenue when a 2019 Hyundai Elantra veered off the road near the Harrison Street intersection.
According to police reports, the vehicle left the roadway, entered the property of the Congregation Beth El Keser Israel Synagogue, and struck a tree before coming to rest in the northbound lane. Both the teenage driver and the unidentified female passenger sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced deceased after being transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
New Haven authorities stated that prior to the crash, officers had attempted to stop the vehicle. The car was reportedly involved in an earlier incident where it nearly struck a marked police cruiser. Connecticut State Police have since assumed control of the investigation into the collision.
Investigative Outlook
The involvement of the Connecticut State Police indicates a standard procedural escalation due to the preceding attempted traffic stop by local officers. Investigators are expected to reconstruct the accident timeline and analyze the mechanical state of the vehicle to determine the precise cause of the loss of control. This incident highlights ongoing public safety concerns regarding juvenile involvement in motor vehicle thefts and the operational protocols governing police interactions with fleeing vehicles.
