NEW HAVEN — The man behind the wheel of a speeding Hyundai Sonata that slammed into a gas station June 20 on Whalley Avenue at Amity Road, killing two passengers, was under the influence of PCP and was driving about 98 mph before impact, police said Wednesday.
Tyrese Worthy, 27, survived the crash that killed his friends and on Tuesday was charged with two counts of first-degree manslaughter, two counts of second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehilcle, misconduct with a motor vehicle, reckless driving, operating under the influence and operating under license suspension.
They men who died were Derand Lane, 35, and Billy Ray Yancey, 32.
Worthy was going so fast that when his vehicle hit an embankment it went airborne for about 80 feet and struck the steel canopy of the gas station at Whalley Avenue and Amity Road. The canopy then collapsed.
Worthy was held in lieu of $250,000.
While speaking with a police officer in the ambulance, Worthy asked several questions including, “whose car did I mess up”, “did I get into a car accident”, “am I going to jail” and “are the Police here”.
He also admitted that he smoked PCP earlier in the day. A lab test later confirmed that.
A CT Transit bus driver told police a Hyundai went flying by him moments before the crash, and surveillance video from the bus showed that, police said. It also showed the car almost striking a pedestrian.
The Hyundai Sonata’s event data recorder indicated the car was going 98 mph 5 seconds before the airbags were deployed.
Police said Worthy has an extensive criminal record that includes 14 previous convictions for crimes such as sale of drugs, possession of drugs, operating under suspension, interfering with police and reckless driving.