Drunk Driver Crashes into Student House During Halloween Weekend

Students and first responders raced to 69 Fountain Avenue in the early hours of Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026 after a car drove into the student home. The vehicle, a 2026 Honda Civic, was buried up to its front mirrors in the house at a 30-degree incline. No one in the car or the house was injured. 

The driver, 25-year-old Daniel Tavares, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, according to NBC Connecticut. Tavares is a resident of New Britain, Conn. and refused medical attention, according to the Middletown Police Department.

Several eyewitnesses reported seeing the vehicle speeding down Vine Street before it collided with the building. Two fire trucks were dispatched to the scene, along with two police cruisers and two Public Safety cruisers. 

Nick Glowacki ’28 was among the first students at the scene and spoke to The Argus about the various reactions in the crowd.

“There were probably 40-50 students gathered on the opposite sidewalk in their Halloween costumes, who were understandably in awe of the situation,” Glowacki said. “I heard a few of them on the phone with their friends telling them to come and see for themselves. Some students were taking photos of and in front of the crash, while others were just quietly observing and taking it all in.”

The collision missed the building’s gas line by approximately three inches, according to police. First responders worked to secure the gas service line and the structure before towing the vehicle, according to the Middletown Fire Department. The City of Middletown Building Department officially condemned the structure. 

Physical Plant completed a structural assessment of the damage to the building on Saturday afternoon. According to Associate Vice President of Facilities Alan Rubacha, the house is in a stable condition but would need extensive repairs to the framing, interior shell, bathroom fixtures, and exterior. Physical Plant also taped off the impacted area and cleared debris from the site. The opening in the wall has been temporarily covered with plywood, and the house’s locks have been changed.

Repairs are expected to take place over the next few weeks.

“Repairs will include reconstructing a portion of the foundation, exterior north wall, first floor bathroom and bedroom, as well as mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire alarm system repairs,” Rubacha said. “[The] timeline will be dependent on City inspections and Eversource natural gas restoration.”

Residents of the condemned house were relocated to alternate wood-frame housing later that afternoon.

While the driver was not a University student, the Office of Health Education (WesWell) encourages students to utilize harm reduction strategies to prevent impaired driving. These include planning rides home before consuming substances or alcohol, avoiding cannabis impairment, and making sure peers get home safely and do not drive if they have been drinking or using drugs.

“If someone smokes or vapes, they should wait at least 6-8 hours before driving,” Alcohol and Other Drug Specialist Shannon Paternostro said in an email to The Argus. “If someone ingests an edible, they should wait at least 8-12 hours before driving. Remember that driving under the influence of cannabis impairs reaction times and coordination just like alcohol.”

Any students who were impacted by this incident should reach out to Counseling and Psychological Services. Anyone who would like to explore harm reduction strategies for substance use should set up a WesWell Wellness Coaching appointment through the WesWell website.

Tavares has been released from custody and is set to appear in court on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026.

Sangye Sherpa can be reached at ssherpa@wesleyan.edu.

Raiza Goel can be reached at rgoel@wesleyan.edu.