State police: Driver was impaired when she rear-ended motorcycle in deadly East Hartford crash

A Stafford driver was impaired when she rear-ended a motorcycle on I-84 in East Hartford last year, killing a passenger, state police said Friday.

Marissa Christina Santiago, 26, of the Stafford Springs section of town, was arrested Thursday on charges that include second-degree manslaughter; second-degree assault; first-degree reckless endangerment and driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, they said.

The crash happened about 2:50 p.m. Sept. 3 on I-84 west, state police said. Santiago drove a 2020 Jeep Compass into the back of Miguel Berrios’ 2007 Honda VT600 motorcycle, throwing Berrios, of Willimantic, and his passenger, Miltia Mercado of New Britain.

Both were seriously injured; Mercado later died, police said.

Santiago’s other charges are second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle; second-degree assault with a motor vehicle; reckless driving; following too closely and failure to use a seatbelt, according to police. She posted $100,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court on June 22.

Berrios was arrested on motor vehicle charges: improper use of marker; illegal operation of a motor vehicle without minimum insurance; operating a motorcycle without an endorsement and having an improper seat for a motorcycle passenger, state police said. He was given a promise to appear in court on June 21.

Christine Dempsey may be reached at cdempsey@courant.com.

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