Connecticut Coach Charged for Running Over Victim with Car After Fight About Youth Game
A heated argument over a girls’ basketball game escalates into a shocking hit-and-run in Connecticut—now a youth coach faces serious charges. 🌐 #News #ColumbiaCT #Connecticut #Crime
COLUMBIA, CT – A tense disagreement over a youth basketball game in Columbia, Connecticut, escalated into a shocking hit-and-run incident over the weekend. Police say 29-year-old Bryan Baez-Rivera, a coach for a visiting girls’ team, intentionally struck a person with his car after a verbal altercation, leaving the victim injured and sparking an ongoing investigation.
Incident Details and Video Evidence
The confrontation unfolded Saturday morning at Horace W. Porter School, where a girls’ basketball game was held as part of a Parks and Recreation event.
Surveillance footage shared by Connecticut State Police shows the victim walking into the road to stop Baez-Rivera as he attempted to leave the parking lot. The video captures the moment the car accelerates, hitting the victim, who is sent tumbling over the hood.
Victim’s Account vs. Baez-Rivera’s Statement
According to the victim, the argument with Baez-Rivera began after the game, escalating into a confrontation in the parking lot. The victim reported that Baez-Rivera deliberately ran into them.
“The victim told responding troopers that they were involved in a verbal altercation with the visiting team’s coach, identified as 29-year-old Bryan Baez-Rivera. The victim said they tried to approach Baez-Rivera in the parking lot, but he intentionally ran into them,” police stated.
However, Baez-Rivera gave a different version of events when he spoke to authorities. He claimed that after the verbal exchange, the victim began chasing him. Baez-Rivera said that when the victim stepped into the road, he was unable to avoid the collision.
The coach also noted that he fled the scene, worried about his safety and that of the children in his car, stating that “multiple people began chasing his vehicle.”
Charges and Police Findings
After reviewing the surveillance video, police concluded that Baez-Rivera “appeared to make no attempt to avoid striking the victim.” As a result, he was arrested and now faces serious charges, including two counts of risk of injury to a minor, assault, breach of peace, and reckless endangerment.
Baez-Rivera was released from custody after posting a $5,000 bond. The investigation into the incident is ongoing as authorities continue to piece together the full scope of what occurred.
RELATED TOPICS: Connecticut | Crime | Sports
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