Waterbury, CT — April 24, 2025, FOur people were killed following a car accident that occurred at around 12:45 A.M. on Baldwin St.

An investigation is underway following a car accident that left four people dead during the early-morning hours of April 24th. According to official reports, a BMW was traveling on Baldwin Street near Cherry Street when for unknown reasons the vehicle lost control and crashed into a building and turned upside down.

When first responders arrived on the scene, they found that three people had sustained fatal injuries and were pronounced deceased, while a fourth person was transported to the hospital for treatment where they later succumbed to their injuries. The deceased have been identified by officials as Nelson Torres, Jayden Torres, Noel Torres and Johnaven Puszka. At this time there has been no further information released from the accident, including what caused the vehicle to lose control, however this remains an ongoing investigation and more details may be released by authorities in the future.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When I see a report about a crash that claims four lives, it’s only natural to want immediate answers about how such a devastating event could happen. But getting those answers takes more than just reading the headlines—it requires asking three critical questions that often go overlooked: Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? Has anyone looked into the possibility that a vehicle defect caused the crash? And has all the electronic data relating to the crash been collected?

First, it’s important to consider the scope of the investigation. Crashes involving multiple fatalities are often treated with a higher level of scrutiny, but even then, the reality is that accident investigation resources vary widely from one department to another. A thorough investigation should involve accident reconstruction experts, interviews with any witnesses, and a detailed analysis of the crash scene. Factors like road conditions, visibility, and even the possibility of third-party involvement should all be explored. Without digging into every angle, it’s easy for important details to go undiscovered.

Then there’s the possibility of a vehicle defect. When a car loses control for "unknown reasons" and crashes with such severe consequences, it’s not enough to assume the cause was driver error or road conditions. Could the BMW have suffered a mechanical failure? Was there an issue with its steering, braking, or stability systems? Modern vehicles are incredibly complex machines, and defects—whether in manufacturing or design—can and do contribute to serious crashes. Uncovering a defect typically requires a specialized forensic examination, and if the vehicle is not preserved for that kind of inspection, critical evidence can be lost forever.

Finally, collecting all the available electronic data is absolutely essential. Vehicles today, especially performance models like many BMWs, store detailed information in their electronic control modules—data that can show speed, braking, steering inputs, and more in the moments leading up to a crash. In addition, surveillance footage from nearby businesses, traffic cameras, and cell phone records could all provide crucial context. However, this kind of evidence isn’t preserved automatically. If steps aren’t taken quickly to secure and analyze this data, it can be permanently lost, leaving serious questions unanswered.

Four young lives have been lost, and those left behind deserve more than just vague explanations. They deserve a full and complete investigation—one that answers every possible question about how and why this happened. Because getting the full truth isn’t just about this crash; it’s about making sure that, whenever possible, tragedies like this are prevented in the future. Answering all the important questions is the very least we owe to those whose lives were forever changed.