Police have arrested a man on manslaughter and related charges in connection with a crash in Hartford on Christmas Day that left a 14-year-old boy dead and three others seriously injured.
Tyron Davis, 26, was charged Wednesday morning on a warrant police obtained for his arrest following an extensive investigation, according to Lt. Aaron Boisvert of the Hartford Police Department.
Davis faces three counts of first-degree assault and a single count each of second-degree manslaughter, evading responsibility involving a death, reckless driving and failure to drive in the proper lane.
According to Boisvert, Davis turned himself in and was held on $1.25 million bond pending an arraignment hearing.
Police believe Davis was driving a Tesla Cybertruck that was involved in a horrific crash with a Toyota Camry in the area of Cornwall Street and Hebron Street shortly before 9:20 p.m. The Camry was carrying 14-year-old Malachi James and three of his family members.
Police said they believe the family was heading home in the Camry heading south on Cornwall Street when the driver of the Cybertruck, headed in the opposite direction, crossed into the southbound lane, leading to a head-on collision. Malachi and the other occupants of the Camry had to be extricated from the vehicle before being transported to the hospital, police said. The teen was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The driver of the Tesla took off on foot after the collision, police said.
The other victims in the Camry included Malachi’s father, 50-year-old Thomas James, his sister, Christiana, and his 3-year-old niece, Vaniya, according to the teen’s uncle, Spenser McGhee. Police said James was initially listed in critical condition. According to McGhee, his brother was heavily sedated, still in need of a breathing tube and had not yet spoken a week after the crash.
Christiana needed surgery for a broken leg which required a rod and screws to be inserted, according to McGhee. Vaniya suffered two broken arms and a broken leg and was in a body cast, he said.
Malachi, who lived in Middletown with his mother and went to school there, was remembered by his family as a soft-spoken boy who loved being around his family. The community put together a makeshift memorial at the site of the crash where stuffed animals, candles, balloons and a basketball were left to remember him.
The community also came together to remember Malachi at the site six days after the crash for a candlelight vigil. At the vigil, the teen’s mother, Holli Holloway, told news reporters she wanted justice for her son.
“I just can’t believe that he had to die this way,” Holloway said. “It’s just not right. And I just really hope they catch the person that did this to him.”
McGhee said he believes the Cybertruck driver was only thinking about himself when he left the scene of a crash where several people were in obvious need of serious medical attention.
A GoFundMe started by family to cover funeral, medical and other associated expenses has raised a little more than $9,500. A separate fundraiser started by the family has generated nearly $18,000 in donations.