A foster father who is accused of driving under the influence during a crash in Meriden last month that critically injured his 17-year-old foster son is facing more charges after the teen died.
James Bailey, 65, has been charged with manslaughter in the second degree with a motor vehicle, manslaughter in the second degree and operation of a motor vehicle under the influence in connection with the crash on Monday, Sept. 30 that killed 17-year-old Alex Medina.
Police said Bailey was driving and Medina was a passenger in the back seat of a 2014 Nissan Pathfinder that crashed into a utility pole on North Wall Street, near Baldwin Pond just after 11 a.m. that Monday morning and Medina was thrown from the vehicle and hit his head on a tree.
He wasn’t wearing a seatbelt when the crash happened, police said.
Medina was airlifted to the hospital, where he was in died three days later. He was a student at Maloney High School.
Another family member who was visiting from another country was in the front seat of the SUV and was transported to Midstate Hospital to be treated for minor injuries.
Police said Bailey, failed a field sobriety test at the scene and had a blood alcohol level of one and a half times the legal limit of .08. He was not injured in the crash.
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He was initially charged with DUI, reckless driving, reckless endangerment and assault in the second degree with a motor vehicle. The additional charges were filed on Tuesday and his next court date is Nov. 12.
Department of Children and Families Commissioner Vannessa Dorantes released the following statement on Tuesday.
"The Department of Children and Families remains actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of our foster child, Alex Medina.In the days since this tragic incident, information has been gathered to more fully understand the care and treatment he received in his foster home and his overall well-being in the Department’s care. Alex was a child with great promise, known for his love of Air Jordans and playing video games. He was connected to his family, was actively involved in sports and participated in programs to prepare himself for college and fulfill his dream of being an entrepreneur. We remain in support of Alex’s family, the staff who worked so closely with him, his friends, his classmates, school personnel, his Attorney and our partners in the community whose lives he touched and who will remember him so dearly.”
