Teenager who crashed into two state troopers faces judge

ENFIELD, Conn. (WFSB) - The man police say was speeding and crashed into two state troopers faced a judge today.

Joel Caiza lost control of his car on Thursday, drove through standing water on I-91, and injured the troopers. One trooper was seriously injured.

Both troopers are now out of the hospital and will be okay.

18-year-old Caiza was emotional during his arraignment today.

He was not in the courtroom for his arraignment. He was arraigned from inside the Corrigan Correctional Center in Uncasville.

His public defender says this was purely an accident.

She claims that the weather had been poor before the crash, and that Caiza accidentally spun out.

“The weather was bad. The road conditions were bad. Witnesses observed a huge puddle. It caused him to hydroplane across the highway,” she said. “This was a car accident.”

But the state and the judge fired back. Caiza doesn’t have a driver’s license, and a witness claimed he was driving roughly 85 miles per hour on I-91 north. Caiza told police he was going 65.

“He took a risk and drove, and that risk resulted in people being injured,” the judge said.

Caiza was charged with reckless driving, traveling too fast for conditions, and driving without a license.

“Ultimately, the defendant engaged in very serious conduct that will have consequences that will be long lasting to all parties involved,” the state’s attorney’s office said.

The judge ended up lowering his bond from $100,000 to $20,000.

The I-Team confirmed this week that Caiza is from Ecuador and entered the country illegally in 2023.

The Department of Homeland Security lodged a detainer for his arrest, meaning they have interest in deporting him.

Caiza’s been living in Waterbury and was set to be a senior in high school in the fall.