Crime & Safety

Second Man Facing Manslaughter, DUI in Fatal July Crash

Middletown Police say Jedidiah Roesler, 22, of Meriden turned himself in Monday on an outstanding warrant. He and Stephen Tyrseck, 36, of Durham are charged with the death of 20-year-old Alexander Martinez of Meriden.

The second driver involved in fatal two-car collision that killed Alexander Martinez of Meriden July 24 and injured three others in Middletown has been charged with second-degree manslaughter.

According to police documents, both drivers — Jedidiah B. Roesler, 23, of Meriden and Stephen M. Tyrseck, 36, of Durham — had blood alcohol levels well above the legal threshold. Roesler registered a BAC of .182 and Tyrseck .269 — more than three times the legal limit of .08.

Roesler turned himself in Monday at 8 p.m. at Middletown Police headquarters. He’s facing second-degree manslaughter, misconduct with a motor vehicle, negligent homicide, reckless driving, operation under the influence of alcohol, failure to grant right of way and traveling at an unreasonable speed.

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Tyrseck at the time of the crash was a firefighter in Middletown's South District Fire Department.

Tyrseck was arrested by Middletown Police after he turned himself in on Thursday afternoon. He was charged with second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, misconduct with a motor vehicle, negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, reckless driving, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and speeding.

Martinez was killed when Tyrseck’s 2008 Ford F350 pickup collided with a car on South Main Street near the intersection of Highland Avenue. Martinez was pronounced dead at the scene after being ejected from the 2002 Honda Civic driven by Roesler about 2:30 a.m., according to police.

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The Civic was traveling north on South Main, turned turn left onto Highland Avenue, when the front of the Ford hit the right side of the Honda. The other three occupants of the Honda and driver of the Ford were taken to Hartford Hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Both Tyrseck and Roesler were held on a $100,000 and are free on bond. Both are scheduled to be arraigned Dec. 28 at 9 a.m. at Superior Court in Middletown.

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