Police Release Names Of Two Meriden Children Who Died In Sunday Crash

By Patch Editor Paul Petrone.

Updated Monday 8:11 a.m.
The Meriden Police Department has released the names of the two children who died Sunday morning in Meriden when the car they were sitting in was allegedly struck from behind by an SUV.

The names of the children are Tatiana Cruz, aged 5, and Lorezno Cruz, aged 8, both of Meriden. Additionally, the parents of Tatiana and Lorenzo were also in the car and were treated for injuries. Their names are Michael Cruz and Gina Schroder.

A third boy - the son of Schroder and the stepson of Michael Cruz - was also in the car and was rushed to the intensive care unit. His name is Alejandro Schroder, aged 12. All are from Meriden

Updated Sunday, 10:18 a.m.
A 29-year-old Meriden man was arrested Sunday on three charges following an early-morning accident that left two children dead and another in the intensive care unit.

Israel Gonzalez, 29, of 108 Ann Street, Meriden, was charged Sunday with felony evading responsibility, reckless driving and driving a motor vehicle without a drivers license after he allegedly drove his SUV into a Subaru early this morning and killed two children while sending a third into the intensive care unit. Police also said that they are planning on obtaining a warrant to get the results of his blood alcohol content and "further serious charges are pending," according to a press release from the Meriden Police Department.

Gonzalez is being held on $1 million bond.

Original Story:
Police have said that they are planning on arresting the driver of an SUV that allegedly crashed into a car early Sunday morning in Meriden and killed two children, while putting a third in the intensive care unit.

Just before 1:53 a.m. today, a Subaru Legacy holding five passengers - two adults and three children - stopped at a traffic light at the intersection of Broad Street and Gale Ave in Meriden, according to a press release from the Meriden Police Department. While stopped, the Subaru was struck from behind by a GMC Denali, which killed two of the children inside the Subaru - a 5-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy, according to police. Additionally, a 12-year-old inside the Subaru was rushed to Hartford Hospital's intensive care unit and the two adults inside the car - the parents of the two children who died - were brought to the hospital.

The driver of the GMC Denali fled the scene on foot but was later captured by police at a nearby home, according to Meriden Police. Police believe that both alcohol and speed were factors in the crash, according to a police press release.

The driver of the GMC Denali was taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries. Police told Patch that they plan to arrest the driver once he is released from the hospital.

The relationship between the 12-year-old boy who is in the intensive care unit and the rest of the people in the car is unknown, although police believe he is related to the other four people who were inside the Subaru. Police also think there might have been a passenger in the GMC Denali, although have yet to confirm that.

If anyone has any information regarding the accident, they are asked to contact the investigating officer, Donna Zurstadt, at (203) 630-6528. Police have said they will release more information soon, including the names of the victims.

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