Four women have filed lawsuits against the City of New Haven and two businesses following a crash on Sargent Drive that resulted in injuries and one fatality in October 2022. The women, Julia Fredericks, Ashley O’Donnell, Hailey Smith, and Victoria diBenedetto, are seeking monetary damages for their injuries. They claim that the City of New Haven and the businesses, Long Wharf Ventures and the New Haven Food Terminal, were aware of street racing on Sargent Drive but did not take action to address it.
In response to the lawsuits, a spokesperson for the City of New Haven stated that drag racing can lead to tragic outcomes and outlined the steps taken by the city to address the issue, including installing speed tables and deploying officers to deter such activities. The crash occurred when Carlos Gonzalez and David Takdharie were street racing and caused a five-car crash, resulting in Gonzalez’s death. Takdharie has been arrested and charged with various offenses related to the incident, while another driver, Emily Murphy, has also been charged.
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