West Hartford Cops: Man Driving 88 MPH When He Crashed, Seriously Injuring Passenger

West Hartford police say Dennis Kelly, 29, is accused of driving 88 miles per hour at the point where he struck an embankment, which led to minor injuries for him but serious injuries for his passenger, police said in a release Wednesday. 

Kelly was arrested on Tuesday for his actions in connection with a motor vehicle crash on May 11. In the crash a passenger, Malicia Ortiz, was seriously injured, police said. 

Kelly suffered minor injuries in the accident. Kelly was driving a 2013 Nissan Altima that was reported stolen in Hartford, police said. Information retrieved from the black box recorder showed the car was traveling at 88 mph before hitting the embankment to the left of the railroad overpass, police said. 

The car traveled up the embankment with a maximum of a 71 degree angle. and vaulted 57 feet over the railroad tracks and landed on a busway overpass approach, which was under construction, police said. 

The car then slid off the busway surface and landed on a jersey barrier and the roadway 17 feet below the busway, police said. Kelly allegedly used marijuana and PCP before the crash, police said.

He was charged with driving while under the influence of drugs, reckless driving, first-degree larceny and driving with a suspended license. Additionally, he was charged with speeding, second-degree assault with a motor vehicle, failure to drive in a proper lane, and damage to railroad property in the third-degree. He is being held on $75,000 bond.