SEYMOUR, Conn. (WTNH)– Police have identified the man killed after a car crashed into a utility poll and flipped over in Seymour.
Utility crews are replacing that pole after a deadly crash involving a car filled with mostly teenagers. The crash happened late Tuesday night, near several homes on Rimmon Street.
Police have identified the victim as 20-year-old Shyheim Samuel, of Derby. Police say he was possibly the right rear passenger.
“I was in my living room and I heard a big bang. Sounded like a shot gun,” said Christina Kowalczyk, who lives right near the crash site.
Web Extra: Seymour Police news conference on crash investigation
The five people who survived the crash are in the hospital right now. Two of them had injuries that were life threatening but their conditions have since “been upgraded.”
Utility crews replacing broken utility pole on Rimmon St in #Seymour. 1 dead, 5 injured after crash. @WTNH pic.twitter.com/judC2yk32O
— Brian Spyros (@BrianSpyros) April 12, 2017
The crash happened right around 9:30 p.m. when a car hit a utility pole, resulting in that pole splitting in half. The car then flipped over and landed on its roof in someone’s front yard.
Related: 1 dead, 5 injured in Seymour crash
Rimmon Street was closed for hours while utility crews replaced the broken pole.
Rimmon St in #seymour closed btw Prospect & Clifton Streets #traffic #wtnh pic.twitter.com/1ErjdpBY4s
— Renee Chmiel (@ReneeChmiel) April 12, 2017
The police department says that speed was definitely a factor in this crash. The people in the car ranged in age from 14 to 22 years old.
“Right now we definitely know speed was a factor and then we are going to look at everything else to try and determine what happened,” said Deputy Chief Paul Satkowski, Seymour Police Department.
My heart is heavy for the families of the 6 teens involved in this terrible car ax in #Seymour. 1 died, 5 injured. They are on Spring break pic.twitter.com/mbAvWsQB7R
— Laura Hutchinson (@LauraHutch8) April 12, 2017
The investigation is underway to try to figure out what caused this crash.
“This will be a lengthy, complete and thorough investigation and at the conclusion of this investigation we do anticipate filing criminal charges,” said Satkowski.
Neighbors who live in the area of the crash tell News 8 that speeding down this steep road has been an ongoing issue for years.
“There is concern about lack of speed limit signs coming from beacon Falls down towards Route 67 not notifying folks about the speed limits and the terrain and steepness of the hill,” said James Pepe, who’s lived along the road for ten years.
Derby Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Matthew Conway Jr, issued the following statement regarding Samuel Wednesday afternoon:
Our Derby Family is saddened by the news of the accident in Seymour involving a Derby resident and former student. We are reaching out to our extended family members to support them in every way we can. Support services will be available at the high school for any students today and tomorrow and when students return to school next week.”
