Four people, including three brothers, were killed early Thursday when a car crashed into a neighborhood market in Waterbury, causing part of the building to collapse, police said.
The crash occurred around 12:47 a.m. when a BMW traveling north on Cherry Street lost control after crossing East Main Street and slammed into Hernandez Market near Maple Avenue, according to Waterbury police. The impact partially collapsed the building and knocked down a utility pole, prompting street closures and emergency repairs.
Police identified the victims as Kayden Torres, 20; Nelson Torres, 25; Noel Torres, 15; and Jonathan Puszka, 20. The Torres brothers were siblings, and all four victims were from Waterbury. Three of the victims died at the scene, while the fourth was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
No one was inside the market at the time of the crash, and no other injuries were reported. The owner of Hernandez Market said she was devastated by the destruction but relieved that her employees were not present during the incident.
Preliminary findings from the investigation suggest that speed was a factor in the crash, according to surveillance footage reviewed by police. The Waterbury Police Department’s Crash Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate and has asked anyone with information to contact them.
Cherry Street remains closed from East Main Street to Walnut Avenue as crews work to secure the area and repair damage caused by the crash.
“We tried to get in there and wires were all over the place so it was smart that we didn’t because we had to wait for them to secure the poles so the roof wouldn’t fall on top of us,” said neighborhood resident Cesar Torres.
Police have not released further details on what led to the driver losing control.
About The Author
