New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Men face prison terms in fatal Shelton crash
MILFORD — Two men are facing prison terms after they pleaded guilty to causing the crash two years ago that killed a young mother, her 8month-old fetus and a West Haven teenager while racing on River Road in Shelton.
Lawrence Carter, 20, of Bridgeport, pleaded guilty Tuesday and 21-yearold Abdulaziz Yuldoshev, of Hamden, pleaded guilty Wednesday before Superior Court Judge Peter Brown to two counts each of second-degree manslaughter and racing on a highway — a charge passed by the legislature as a result of this case.
Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Howard Stein told the judge he will recommend that Carter serve six years in prison when he is sentenced May 28 and Yuldoshev four years in prison when he is sentenced June 6.
The judge told the lawyers for both men they will have an opportunity to argue for lesser terms during the sentencing hearings.
Stein declined comment on the pleas.
According to police, on April 8, 2018, around 7 p.m., Shelton police, fire and EMS responded to a report of serious motor vehicle crash on River Road.
Police said Carter was racing another car driven by Yuldoshev south on River Road when he collided with a Saturn traveling north.
Police said Carter and Yuldoshev’s cars were racing at speeds up to and exceeding 80 mph. The speed limit on River
Road, also known as Route 110, ranges from 35 mph to 45 mph. Carter’s wife, 23-year-old Briana Torres-Carter, her fetus, and 18-yearold Shalymar Herrera, of West Haven, who were in Carter’s Mini Cooper, were killed in the crash. A fourth person in the car, Jessie Abrams, 19, of Bridgeport, was seriously injured.
The Saturn’s three occupants — Caitlin Kalafus, 25; Carly Kalafus, 22, and Paul Valleau, 26 — were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said. The Kalafus sisters front the band Like Violet.