West Hartford Police charged the driver on Thursday in connection with an incident that occurred in April 2023.

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford Police said Thursday that the driver of a vehicle that collided head on with a school bus on April 26, 2023 has been arrested and faces multiple charges in connection with the incident.

According to police, following an investigation led by the West Hartford Police Department Accident Reconstruction team, it was determined that the driver of the vehicle, identified as Nelson Martinez, 37, of Colchester, CT, was at fault in the crash.

A warrant was successfully obtained, and police said Martinez turned himself in on Aug. 31 without incident.

The collision happened occurred at approximately 4:04 p.m. on April 26 on North Main Street at Miller Road, just north of Hall High School. The school bus was occupied at the time of the crash, but police said that neither the driver of the bus nor any of the passengers reported injuries. Martinez was treated at the scene and transported to an area hospital for evaluation and treatment.

Martinez was charged Thursday with first-degree reckless endangerment, illegal operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, possession of a controlled substance (second offense), reckless driving, and failure to drive right. Police said he was released on a $25,000 court-set bond and due in court on Sept. 14, 2023.

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