News

Apr 29, 2023

Hannah Bartolucci of Agawam helped run illegal street races in Conn., police say

A 20-year-old Western Massachusetts woman and two Connecticut men were arrested

A 20-year-old Western Massachusetts woman and two Connecticut men were arrested after federal investigators said they helped run several illegal street racing events throughout Connecticut.

Hannah Bartolucci, 20, of the Feeding Hills neighborhood in Agawam, was arrested, as were Flor Hiram Santiago, 43, of Meriden, Connecticut and Tednnessy William Torrellas Hernandez, 37, of Waterbury, Connecticut in connection with the illegal street races or "takeover events."

Officials said the illegal street races the three helped host have led to assaults, shootings, motor vehicle collisions, injuries to pedestrians and property damage – which required the help of multiple law enforcement agencies across the state.

A months-long investigation conducted by Connecticut State Police and the FBI led authorities to identify the three people who organized and promoted the events, officials said. Investigators arrested the individuals Sunday and Monday.

Sunday at around 11:26 p.m., police found a white Honda Civic drag racing with no registration plate on Route 9 in Berlin, Connecticut. The Civic also had a drag race parachute on the back of the vehicle, police added.

Authorities watched the Honda Civic drive onto a flatbed trailer pulled by a pick-up truck before pulling the driver over. Police said the Honda Civic was stolen out of Danbury and the trailer plate was misused.

Santiago was identified as the driver and was taken into custody on several charges in connection with the illegal street racing circuit and the reported stolen vehicles were seized by police. Santiago also faces a first-degree larceny charge out of East Hartford, Connecticut.

He's currently being held on a $500,000 bond, police said.

On Monday at around 1:43 a.m., investigators found two vehicles driving recklessly over 120 mph on Interstate 81 west near exit 29. Police said the driving was a risk to the public and state troopers pulled both cars over in Waterbury.

The two drivers were identified as Bartolucci and Torrellas Hernandez. They were both arrested and charged in connection with the illegal street racing circuit.

Bartolucci and Torrellas Hernandez were both later released on $10,000 bonds.

Both the Toyota Camry driven by Bartolucci and a Hyundai Veloster Turbo driven by Torrellas Hernandez were seized as evidence for the police investigation.

Authorities are still investigating the string of illegal street races in Connecticut. Police urge anyone who witnesses illegal street races or has any information about illegal street racing events to call 911.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation.