Johnaven Puzska Obituary, Death: Waterbury community grieves lives lost in deadly crash.

Johnaven Puzska Obituary, Death – The city of Waterbury is mourning the loss of four young lives after a devastating car crash early Thursday morning. As the community struggles to come to terms with the tragedy, a growing memorial has been set up just across from the site of the accident, allowing loved ones and neighbors to pay tribute to the victims.

The crash occurred at approximately 1:00 a.m. Thursday, when a car carrying four passengers slammed into the Hernandez Market, a local convenience store located at the intersection of Maple Avenue and Cherry Street. The impact was so powerful that it caused part of the building to collapse onto the vehicle, trapping those inside.

All four occupants of the car were killed. They have been identified as 20-year-old Johnaven Puzska, and three brothers from the Torres family — Nelson, 25; Jayden, 20; and Noel, just 15 years old. Their sudden deaths have left the Waterbury community in shock and sorrow.

In the days since the crash, the sidewalk across from the now-damaged market has become a place of remembrance. Candles flicker through the night, and balloons tied to poles flutter in the breeze. Messages of love and grief written on posters and cards are steadily accumulating, offering a space for reflection and solidarity. Friends, family members, and even strangers have been stopping by to pay their respects, leaving flowers and lighting candles in memory of the young men.

Many in the neighborhood are speaking out about what they see as a long-standing issue in the area: speeding. Residents and business owners near the crash site say that drivers frequently race down Maple Avenue, especially during late-night hours, creating dangerous conditions for both pedestrians and other motorists. They’ve been calling for greater enforcement of traffic laws and more efforts to reduce speeding in the neighborhood.

While the exact cause of the crash is still under investigation, authorities have confirmed that excessive speed is a suspected factor. Police have not released further details about the circumstances leading up to the accident, but the severity of the impact and the damage to the building suggest the car was traveling at a high rate of speed when it hit the structure.

The crash not only devastated the families of those lost but also caused significant damage to the Hernandez Market, which had served the community for years. The store’s front section was heavily damaged in the collapse, and it remains closed as inspectors assess the structural integrity of the building.

This incident is part of a broader pattern in Connecticut, where traffic-related deaths have remained a persistent concern in recent years. While the number of fatal crashes has declined slightly in 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, the problem remains serious. So far this year, at least 68 people have died in vehicle crashes across the state. That number is lower than the 91 recorded by this time last year, but still points to ongoing road safety issues.

Transportation officials and advocacy groups have been pushing for new safety initiatives, including increased traffic monitoring, speed enforcement cameras, and better infrastructure to help reduce fatal accidents. They argue that more proactive measures are necessary to curb dangerous driving behavior and to protect lives — particularly young ones like those lost in the Waterbury crash.

As the investigation continues, the Waterbury Police Department is urging anyone with information about the crash to come forward. They are piecing together details from surveillance footage, witness accounts, and physical evidence from the scene to determine exactly what happened in the moments leading up to the collision.

In the meantime, the community continues to rally around the grieving families. Local churches and community groups have offered support, and a candlelight vigil is being planned to formally honor the lives of Johnaven Puzska and the Torres brothers. Plans for a joint funeral service or individual memorials have not yet been announced, but loved ones have begun sharing tributes and memories of the young men online.

Each of the victims is being remembered for their unique personalities and the relationships they held with friends and family. Though their lives were cut tragically short, the outpouring of grief and compassion from the Waterbury community serves as a testament to how deeply they were loved.

As Waterbury continues to process the tragedy, many are calling for change — not only in the form of improved traffic safety but in building stronger, safer communities where young lives are protected and tragedies like this become a thing of the past.