Press Releases
01/12/2024
Hartford Man Sentenced in Deadly 2022 Motor Vehicle Crash in Hartford
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Hartford, CT) - Sharmese L. Walcott, State’s Attorney for the Hartford Judicial District, today announced that Melvin Castro, age 31, of Hartford was sentenced on January 11, 2024 by the Honorable David P. Gold to 15 years in prison, execution suspended after six and a half years served, followed by three years of probation, for a deadly 2022 motor vehicle crash in Hartford.
Castro pleaded guilty on October 26, 2023 in Hartford Superior Court to charges of Manslaughter in the Second Degree with a Motor Vehicle in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-56b and Assault in the Second Degree with a Motor Vehicle in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-60d.
Court records show that on July 11, 2022, the Hartford Police Department responded to reports of a serious motor vehicle crash at New Britain and Fairfield Avenues. An investigation revealed that a Nissan Altima, driven by Castro, failed to stop at a red light and traveled through the intersection at a high rate of speed, estimated at 81 miles per hour in a zone with a speed limit of 30 miles per hour. Castro’s vehicle then struck a Ford Focus driven by Jamal Randolph McCall, age 33, of Hartford, who was transported to Hartford Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The passenger also was transported to the hospital for treatment of serious physical injuries.
The investigation showed that Castro had a blood alcohol concentration or BAC of .15. In Connecticut, a person 21 years of age or over is considered to be legally intoxicated if they have a BAC of .08 or higher. Castro also admitted to ingesting marijuana prior to operating the vehicle.
At the sentencing hearing, the surviving victim talked about the senseless and tragic loss of Mr. McCall and detailed for the court the permanent injuries he suffered in the crash.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant State’s Attorney Samantha Magnani with the assistance of Inspector Joseph Buyak.