Newtown, CT — The community of Danbury is mourning the heartbreaking loss of 19-year-old Mary Cardero, who was tragically killed in a violent car crash in Newtown during the early morning hours of August 24, 2025. Authorities say the crash, which left several others injured, was caused by reckless speeding.
According to the Newtown Police Department, 19-year-old Alexis Salazar of Danbury was driving a Ford Mustang GT carrying five passengers when he lost control of the vehicle around 2:40 a.m. on Berkshire Road, just west of Zoar Road. Investigators determined that Salazar was traveling at a dangerously high speed when he failed to navigate a left-hand curve, sending the car off the road and into a tree.
Emergency crews arrived within minutes, finding the Mustang with severe front-end damage. Despite their best efforts, Mary Cardero — seated in the rear middle seat — was pronounced dead at the scene. The remaining four occupants were rushed to nearby hospitals, two of them in critical condition.
Police have been investigating the incident since August and, following weeks of evidence review, Salazar surrendered to authorities on Tuesday. He was taken into custody and is being held on a $300,000 bond. Salazar now faces multiple charges, including manslaughter, reckless driving, negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, and making a false statement, among others.
The devastating crash has left the Danbury and Newtown communities shaken, with friends describing Mary as a kind, vibrant young woman whose smile could brighten any room. Tributes have poured in across social media, with many expressing disbelief at the sudden loss of someone so young and full of promise.
As detectives continue to piece together the full circumstances surrounding the crash, Mary’s loved ones are left grappling with the painful reality of a life cut tragically short — a reminder of how a single moment of recklessness can forever alter so many lives.
Funeral arrangements for Mary Cardero will be announced in the coming days. The community joins her family in mourning a young woman whose future was filled with potential, now gone far too soon.