The local man who was driving a car in which a 15-year-old Oxford High School student was killed in March has been arrested by state police after a lengthy investigation.
, 20, of 3 Wood Road, turned himself in to state police Tuesday and was charged with several crimes, including reckless driving, engaging police in pursuit and misconduct with a motor vehicle for that claimed the life of , an Oxford High School football player.
Police say Ramirez, who was driving a Ford Mustang convertible, was attempting to avoid being pulled over by a Seymour police officer just before midnight. The officer wanted to pull Ramirez over for a motor vehicle infraction, according to the news release. Instead of stopping, Ramirez stepped on the gas, passed other vehicles and intentionally turned off his lights to avoid being seen by the Seymour officer before turning onto dark back roads, according to a state police news release.
"Ramirez continued to drive at a high rate of speed before turning off on to Old State Road 67 where he failed to negotiate the curvature of the roadway," the release states. "The Mustang traveled off the roadway, up a grass embankment and went airborne into a commercial building at 43 Old State Road No. 67. The vehicle came to final rest upside down (no roof/convertible) sustaining heavy damage."
Ramirez and his front seat passenger, Dion Major, 16 of 170 Hogsback Road, Oxford, sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and Giordano was pronounced dead on arrival.
Ramirez turned himself in to State Police Barracks Troop A in Southbury where he was processed and released on a $10,000.00 court set bond. He is scheduled to appear in Derby Superior Court on Sept. 24.
The Valley Independent Sentinel reports that state police did not say anything about the Seymour police pursuit. Seymour Police issued this statement to the Sentinel:
“Now that the accident investigation is complete the final report will be reviewed to determine if any department policies or procedures have been violated with regards to the action of the Seymour Police Officer. The Seymour Police Department has not yet received the final report for review,” the statement says. “Representatives from the Seymour Police Department will not make any further comments until the appropriate time. Thank you for your patience and understanding.”
