Police identify occupants in fatal Stamford crash
By Kat Russell, Reporter
Stamford Advocate
November 24, 2017
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Police-identify-occupants-in-fatal-Stamford-crash-12381911.php
By Kat Russell, Reporter
Stamford Advocate
November 24, 2017
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Police-identify-occupants-in-fatal-Stamford-crash-12381911.php
STAMFORD — Two city men have been identified as the occupants involved in a fatal single-car accident near Scalzi Park this week.
Stamford Police Sgt. Andrew Gallagher said Donte Smith, a 19-year-old passenger, was killed after the silver BMW 525i crashed into a tree on Washington Boulevard Wednesday afternoon. Smith was taken to Stamford Hospital where he died of his injuries.
The driver, Kadeem Mitchell, 20, was seriously injured in the crash and remains at Samford Hospital where he was last listed Friday in critical condition.
Gallagher said officers are still investigating the cause of the crash but indicated speed was likely a factor.
“From looking at the damage to the vehicle, it was obvious that this was a high-speed crash and we are continuing our investigation on that front,” he said.
Weather, he said, could have also been a factor.
“It had been raining earlier that day, and the roadway was wet,” he said.
The crash occurred about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday on the northbound side Washington Boulevard near Second Street.
City Rep. John Zelinsky said he was on his way to work, and had turned on Washington Boulevard from Second Street just moments after the crash occurred.
"The car was right in the tree and it was smoking and a couple of cars had stopped," he said. "As soon as I saw the car smoking, I put my flashers on and slowed down in the right lane and called 911."
Zelinsky said he saw a young woman approach the vehicle and look inside near the driver’s area and call out: "he’s still breathing, he’s still breathing"
"It was the most horrific crash I’ve ever seen," he said. "The whole front looked like it was crushed in almost to the back seat. It was awful."
The damage to the vehicle was so extensive, both people had to be mechanically extricated by Stamford Fire and Rescue.
“We are speaking to several witnesses to the crash, and at this point, we are just practicing our due diligence and trying to rule in what we can rule in and what we can rule out,” Gallagher said.
kat.russell@stamfordadvocate.com
Stamford Police Sgt. Andrew Gallagher said Donte Smith, a 19-year-old passenger, was killed after the silver BMW 525i crashed into a tree on Washington Boulevard Wednesday afternoon. Smith was taken to Stamford Hospital where he died of his injuries.
The driver, Kadeem Mitchell, 20, was seriously injured in the crash and remains at Samford Hospital where he was last listed Friday in critical condition.
Gallagher said officers are still investigating the cause of the crash but indicated speed was likely a factor.
“From looking at the damage to the vehicle, it was obvious that this was a high-speed crash and we are continuing our investigation on that front,” he said.
Weather, he said, could have also been a factor.
“It had been raining earlier that day, and the roadway was wet,” he said.
The crash occurred about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday on the northbound side Washington Boulevard near Second Street.
City Rep. John Zelinsky said he was on his way to work, and had turned on Washington Boulevard from Second Street just moments after the crash occurred.
"The car was right in the tree and it was smoking and a couple of cars had stopped," he said. "As soon as I saw the car smoking, I put my flashers on and slowed down in the right lane and called 911."
Zelinsky said he saw a young woman approach the vehicle and look inside near the driver’s area and call out: "he’s still breathing, he’s still breathing"
"It was the most horrific crash I’ve ever seen," he said. "The whole front looked like it was crushed in almost to the back seat. It was awful."
The damage to the vehicle was so extensive, both people had to be mechanically extricated by Stamford Fire and Rescue.
“We are speaking to several witnesses to the crash, and at this point, we are just practicing our due diligence and trying to rule in what we can rule in and what we can rule out,” Gallagher said.
kat.russell@stamfordadvocate.com
