WINCHESTER, Conn. (DMN) — A Torrington man has been charged with manslaughter by Winchester Police following a tragic crash in 2023 that claimed the lives of a teenager and his grandfather.
A 25-year-old man from Torrington, Glen Ragin Jr., was charged on Friday with multiple offenses including manslaughter, assault, traffic violations, and reckless driving.
He made an appearance in Torrington Superior Court on Friday morning, following his extradition from Florida. He is currently being held on a $200,000 bond.
Last February, 16-year-old Marcus Rogers and his 84-year-old grandfather William O’Leary were on their way to Rogers’ hockey practice along Route 44 when the charges were filed.
Tragically, while on the road, they were struck by a 23-year-old driver who veered into their lane. The driver has now been identified as Ragin.
Rogers, a student at Oliver Wolcott Tech High School in Torrington, was an active member of the Housatonic Co-Op Mountaineers, playing as both left and right wing for the team.
A passenger in Ragin’s vehicle was also seriously injured and was taken to Hartford Hospital by LIFE STAR.
Dean Diamond, Rogers’s former hockey coach, expressed his response to the recent development.
“It’s a constant reminder of the pain that was caused and it should have been taken care of instantaneously, it should have been settled immediately…never should have taken this long,” Diamond said.
Court documents reveal that a passenger traveling with Ragin mentioned that they were heading eastbound behind a box truck. Ragin made the decision to overtake the truck. He veered into the opposite lane and as I glanced at the speedometer, it showed a slightly alarming 80 mph.
According to other witnesses, the vehicle was reportedly driving in an unpredictable manner, as stated to the police. Investigators discovered a bottle of liquor, marijuana, and cigars in Ragin’s vehicle, according to the documents. However, investigators confirmed that he successfully passed sobriety tests.
“He really feels remorseful for the people who lost their lives,” said Ragin’s attorney, Darnell Crosland. “We just want people to understand that he’s not trying to run from his responsibilities, but he also needs a fair proceeding to happen.”
In court, it was revealed that Ragin has a criminal history, including charges related to the sexual assault of a minor. News 8 interviewed a civil lawyer representing the Rogers family after Ragin’s arraignment.
“At the time this incident occurred he was released from Florida on heinous crimes, it’s our opinion that he should never have been released from Florida,” said Ryan Henry, a partner with Kramer Anderson.