Greenwich Hit-and-Run Driver Arrested in Florida

Members of the Hispanic community rallied last week for justice in the Dec. 3 hit-and-run deaths of Giovani Vega Benis and Yuliani Arias Lozano at Washington Boulevard and Main Street in downtown Stamford (CT Examiner)

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Stamford police have charged the Greenwich man suspected in the Dec. 3 hit-and-run deaths of two 25-year-olds with manslaughter, evading responsibility and operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The suspect, Michael Talbot, 24, was taken into custody at 8:15 p.m. Thursday in Collier County, Fla., where he was visiting family, according to a press release from the Stamford Police Department.

State Superior Court Judge Bruce Hudock signed the arrest warrant application Wednesday in Stamford, according to the press release.

Talbot was charged with two counts of 2nd-degree manslaughter, two counts of 2nd-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, two counts of felony evading responsibility, operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and reckless operation of a motor vehicle.

Michael Talbot, Collier County, Florida, sheriff’s office

The court set a bond of $1 million, the press release states.

The Stamford Police Department’s Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Squad completed its investigation and brought the arrest warrant application to Hudock for his signature, then began efforts to take Talbot into custody, according to the press release.

They learned that Talbot was not at his home in Greenwich, but was visiting family members in the Naples area of southern Florida. He was taken into custody with help from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office and will be held in Florida until he waives extradition and can be transported to Stamford.

It was not clear Thursday whether Talbot was allowed to leave Connecticut while the hit-and-run crash was under investigation.

Giovani Vega Benis and Yuliana Arias Lozano were killed while crossing Washington Boulevard at Main Street early on the morning of Dec. 3, after finishing their work shifts at a downtown Stamford restaurant.

Vega Benis and Arias Lozano were walking across the boulevard’s southbound lanes when they were struck by a 2022 Mercedes driven by Talbot, police have said. 

Washington Boulevard is a four-lane road divided by a median. The force of the crash threw Vega Benis and Arias Lozano into the northbound lanes.

Police have said Talbot ran from his car. When an officer arrived, witnesses pointed where Talbot went and an officer found him hiding behind a Dumpster. 

Vega Benis and Arias Lozano were pronounced dead at Stamford Hospital. 

Last week members of the Hispanic community held a rally calling for justice in the case. 


Angela Carella

For 36 years prior to joining the Connecticut Examiner, Angela Carella was a beat reporter, investigative reporter, editor and columnist for the Stamford Advocate. Carella reports on Stamford and Fairfield County. T: 203 722 6811.

a.carella@ctexaminer.com