MERIDEN, Conn. — A Meriden step-father is facing charges after a 6-year-old died from a go-kart crash in April, according to police.
The crash happened April 9 around 7:30 p.m. at Kronenberger Park. According to the arrest warrant, 30-year-old Steven Stolfi had brought his two step-children, ages six and four, to the park to ride in a modified go-kart.
The warrant stated that the go-kart the children were riding on had "deficiencies" as Stolfi had bought parts from various stores and assembled the vehicle.
The 6-year-old, wearing a bicycle helmet, drove the go-kart, while the 4-year-old in the passenger seat had no protection.
According to the arrest warrant, Stolfi told police that when they initially arrived at the park around 2:30 p.m., there was a lot of activity, so they moved to Wayne Lane, a dead-end street where the children rode around. Stolfi reportedly supervised them from his motorcycle.
Later in the evening, they returned to the park as it appeared less busy. Nearby witnesses also saw the family. According to the warrant, just before the crash, Stolfi told the 6-year-old that it was time to go and that they could do one more lap.
The child then took off at a high rate of speed, and Stolfi ran after him, yelling at him to slow down. According to the investigation, it appeared that the 6-year-old turned around to look at Stolfi right before the crash. The back of his head then struck the top bar of a nearby gate.
One of the witnesses was a nurse, and she heard the loud bang of the crash and ran over to the go-kart to find Stolfi doing chest compressions on the 6-year-old. She helped stabilize the child's neck, thinking he had a c-spine injury.
The child was rushed to Midstate Medical Center. Lifestar was initially called but did not take him due to his lack of a pulse.
Just after 8:30 p.m. that same evening, the 6-year-old was pronounced dead from his injuries.
The 4-year-old was not critically injured but was also taken to the hospital for evaluation.
The investigation found that the assembly of the modified go-kart left deficiencies and, because it kept moving following the crash, indicated that the "decelerator was depressed, likely caused due to poor workmanship" and that the tire pressures differed.
According to the investigation, the go-kart's body and tires were only meant for a speed of 5mph, but Stolfi modified the vehicle to go up to 28 mph.
The warrant said that a foam pool noodle was installed as the only shock absorbent on the back of the seat, and the frame welding did not appear to be done properly.
Officials charged Stolfi with two counts of risk of injury to a child following the investigation, stating Stolfi willingly allowed his two step-sons to ride the go-kart with "severe, notable deficiencies" and drive at top speeds of 28 mph with no protective measures.
Stolfi was arrested on Sept. 24 and is expected in court on Tuesday.
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Jennifer Glatz is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jglatz@fox61.com.
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