Crime & Safety
Teen Killed After Stolen Car Crashes in Durham: UPDATE
Police were pursuing the vehicle but ended the pursuit prior to the fatal crash. The teen who died was a passenger in the vehicle.
(Editor's Note: This story has been corrected to reflect that the teen who was killed was a passenger and not the driver of the stolen vehicle that crashed.)
DURHAM/MADISON, CT — A 17-year-old Hartford teen, who was a passenger in a stolen car from Madison, was killed when the driver crashed the 2016 Mercedes Benz GL550, rolled over and the teen was thrown from the vehicle, State Police said.
Prior to the fatal crash, the teen, Luis Martinez, 17, of Hungerford Street in Hartford, was a passenger in a vehicle being pursued by Madison police, but State Police stress that the pursuit ended in the town of Madison.
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At 3:22 a.m. Wednesday, the driver of the stolen vehicle, who was not named by State Police, was traveling northbound on Route 79 approaching the intersection with South End Avenue in Durham. The vehicle lost "lateral stability and began to rotate in a counter-clockwise manner," State police said.
The Mercedes continued in a northwesterly direction across the southbound lane and ended up on property at 14 South End Avenue. The vehicle rolled over and Martinez was thrown from the car, State Police said.
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"Prior to the collision sequence, the operator of the Mercedes Benz GL550 engaged the Madison Police Department in pursuit. The pursuit was terminated in the Town of Madison. At the time of the collision sequence, the Madison Police Department was no longer in pursuit," State Police said.
The car was stolen from an Island Avenue home, officials said. Martinez died at an area hospital as a result of his injuries. The accident remains under investigation. If you have any information please call Trooper Albert Gorski at 203-630-5639.
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