19-Year-Old Driver Charged in Crash that Killed 2 UConn Students

State police have charged the driver in a crash that killed two UConn sophomores last September with negligent homicide.

 Hannah Marguerite Schmidt, 19, of Hebron, turned herself in to police Saturday. She was wanted for negligent homicide involving a motor vehicle and a stop sign violation.

 Last September Schimdt was driving on West Street in Columbia when her car collided with a tractor-trailer at the intersection of Route 66 and West Street. Her two passengers, Alana Ferrante, 19, of South Windsor, and Ryan Meegan, 19, of Ridgefield, both UConn sophomores, died in accident. Ferrante was a pre-kinesiology major who had just transferred from Central Connecticut State University.

 The tractor-trailer, driven by 48-year-old Adolfo Lopez, of Hartford, was traveling east on Route 66 while a Toyota Camry, driven by Schmidt, was traveling south on West Street.

The tractor-trailer collided with the right side of the Camry as the car entered the intersection. Both vehicles continued across the road and crashed into a utility pole on the right eastbound shoulder of Route 66. Witnesses reported to police that the Camry did not come to a complete stop at a stop sign prior to entering the intersection.

 Ferrante and Meegan died at the scene. Schmidt was transported to Windham hospital by Columbia Fire/EMS, and was later transferred to Hartford Hospital via LifeStar helicopter for treatment of serious injuries. Lopez was transported to Windham Hospital with minor injuries.Police do not believe drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash.

Schmidt's bond was set at $1,000 and she is expected to appear in court on April 27.

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