NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A high-speed crash killed a 22-year-old New Haven man early Tuesday night, and that crash was one of three he was allegedly involved in a span of just a few minutes across three towns.
The car was traveling at a very high rate of speed when it crashed into Scarpellino's Restaurant, said Emergency Management Director Rick Fontana.
Scarpellino's Restaurant will be closed through at least Thursday due to damage sustained in what was a jaw-dropping crash.
Surveillance video obtained by FOX61 shows a red pickup truck, that had just pulled out onto Forbes Avenue, narrowly missing an out-of-control SUV that crashed into Scarpellino's Restaurant, which thankfully was not opened at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday.
"My employee was here until 4:30 cleaning this very wall that was taken out and the table that you see here," said Danny Scarpellino, the owner of the restaurant.
22-year-old Wilmer Lopez of New Haven was killed in the high-speed crash. Just minutes before ramming into Scarpellino's, Lopez is alleged to have caused crashes in Branford and East Haven. And East Haven Police say he is responsible for a vehicle rolling just over a mile from Scarpellino's.
"They laid him out on my driveway and tried to resuscitate him," said John Kenny, who lives next door to the crash scene.
The driver was alone in the car at the time of the crash. He was taken to the hospital where he later died, police said Wednesday.
"I started to cry and I was shaking," said Luann Scarpellino, who owns the restaurant with her husband. "I was literally shaking and one of the officers walked over to me and like consoled me."
Lopez was awaiting trial on two felony sex charges it remains unclear if that was the reason he was speeding following the other two accidents. Some say police were pursuing him. Branford, East Haven and New Haven police deny that.
"I felt terrible that a young kid died," Danny Scarpellino solemnly said.
John Kenny, the restaurant's next-door neighbor, continues to marvel at what he saw on video.
"It goes by so fast in real-time," he said. "It's one second and a big dust cloud."
East Haven police say the victim of the rollover crash was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
That night, the New Haven Fire Department arrived to shore up a corner of the restaurant that was damaged, emergency officials said.
Multiple agencies are investigating the incident.
Tony Terzi is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at tterzi@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Jareliz Diaz is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jdiaz@fox61.com
---
Have a story idea or something on your mind you want to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at newstips@fox61.com
----
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.
Steam Live on FIRE TV: Search ‘FOX61’ and click ‘Get’ to download.