Negligent Homicide Charges Brought Against Windsor Man In Fatal Crash

WINDSOR, CT — After a lengthy investigation into a fatal rollover crash on Route 20 just over a year ago, negligent homicide with a motor vehicle charges have been brought against a Windsor man who police said was the driver of the car.

Luis Maldonado, 28, turned himself in at Connecticut State Police Troop H in Hartford late Tuesday night. He was unable to post a court-set $100,000 bond, and was slated to be arraigned Wednesday in Hartford Superior Court.

Maldonado was charged in connection with a crash which took place Dec. 15, 2023 on the eastbound side of Route 20. According to an affidavit supporting Maldonado's arrest, he was operating a 2004 Honda Accord around 10:15 p.m. when "everything just went black." He told police he was not using his cell phone at the time.

A witness told police two cars had passed him at a high rate of speed until he lost sight of them. Moments later, he "saw smoke and a vehicle on its roof in the center median," according to the affidavit.

Investigation determined that the car left the roadway and struck a highway sign, then a pair of trees. Yashiramarie Santiago, 32, a passenger in the Accord, was ejected from the car upon impact. An off-duty firefighter and rescue personnel performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on her, but she died shortly thereafter at an area hospital of "blunt force trauma to the torso," according to the affidavit.

An examination of the Honda indicated there were no mechanical failures that could have contributed to the crash. Toxicology reports cited the presence of multiple cannabinoids in both Santiago and Maldonado, according to the affidavit.