Chamberlain Highway crash victim Kelvin Luna was only a new fixture in downtown Meriden, but will be greatly missed.
The 25-year-old New York man had spent the last year working at his new wife's store, La Amistad Bakery, on East Main Street.
"He was like an uncle to me," said John Barry Elementary School third grader Ashley Delgado, whose mother works at the Hispanic foods-focused bakery. "He was a great man," she said, describing Luna as calm and kind.
The 25-year-old was reportedly on his way to the Delgado family's home on Meriden's west side to watch boxing on television Saturday night, Delgado said Monday, when a 2003 Dodge 1500 pickup collided with his 2008 Toyota Yaris on Chamberlain Highway, killing him.
"We heard sirens but didn't know it was that," Delgado said. Her family found out about the accident the next day.
The impact happened on the Berlin side of the Berlin-Meriden border, though the cars ended up across the city line in Meriden. Berlin police are investigating the incident, and no charges have yet been filed, according to the department's Deputy Chief John Klett.
The driver of the Dodge pickup was 32-year-old Victor Arenas of Meriden, who was treated and released at St. Mary's Hospital in Waterbury. Police believe Luna may have been performing a Y-turn when he was hit, because the damage to his car is mostly on the right side, while the damage to the other vehicle is at the front, police said Monday.
Luna was reportedly a Navy veteran. He lived in the apartment above the Bakery at 294 East Main St. with his wife, Susy, who opened the bakery in 2007. Local business website thumbtack.com quotes Luna as saying, "We bring joy and happiness to many families. Hundreds of people come to our bakery every week and leave happy with their warm and fresh bread."
Berlin police are asking for anyone with information about the accident to call 860-828-7080.
