Police have charged the driver of a dirt bike who caused a crash in August in Groton that killed the daughter of a former NBA player.
Scott Whipple, 25 of Mashantucket, turned himself in Thursday morning on a dozen charges including those of second-degree manslaughter, first-degree reckless endangerment, misconduct with a motor vehicle, carrying of passenger on motorcycle not so designed and reckless driving, according to the Groton Police Department.
Whipple posted a $200,000 bond following his arrest and is scheduled to be arraigned in New London Superior Court on Nov. 16.
The charges he faces stem from a crash on Aug. 28 that seriously injured Whipple and killed the passenger on his dirt bike, identified as 24-year-old Tiara Wheeler of Norwich. Wheeler was the daughter of Connecticut native Tyson Wheeler, who played in the NBA for the Denver Nuggets in 1999 and now serves as an assistant coach of the men’s basketball team at Brown University in Rhode Island.
Groton police on Thursday said Whipple was riding an unregistered and uninsured dirt bike without any lights on prior to the crash, which was reported at about 9:26 p.m. at the intersection of Long Hill Road and Meridian Street Extension.
Dirt bike riders leave scene of CT fatal crash, a ‘wanton disregard for human life’, police say
Police said Whipple was found to be at fault for the crash after investigators reportedly determined he was driving along with a number of other ATV and dirt bike riders as they headed north on Long Hill Road and approached the Meridian Street Extension intersection. Whipple allegedly blew through a red light and struck the rear passenger section of an Audi Q7 driven by a 24-year-old woman from Groton, according to police.
Investigators said the Audi driver was traveling southbound on Long Hill Road as her vehicle approached the intersection of Meridian Street Extension, where she had a left green arrow to make a turn into the Groton Shopping Center. The Audi was struck as the woman was making her turn into the plaza, police said.
Tiara Wheeler was thrown from the bike and into the Audi during the collision, killing her, according to police. The accident left Whipple with serious injuries.
According to Groton Police Chief L.J. Fusaro, the group of ATV and dirt bike riders removed the bike Whipple and Wheeler were riding and fled the scene, leaving them without rendering any aid.
Whipple was taken to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London for treatment before being airlifted to Yale New Haven Hospital, where he was initially listed in critical condition.
The Audi driver was transported to L&M Hospital for evaluation and later released.
Hundreds mourned the loss of Wheeler, who was known by those close to her as “Princess,” during a celebration of life event in the Garde Arts Center in New London about a week after the crash. She graduated from Norwich Free Academy before earning a degree from Fairfield University.
According to Fusaro, Groton officers prior to the crash said they saw a group of ATV and dirt bike riders operating recklessly on Long Hill Road and Route 12, where they performed stunts like doughnuts and wheelies in intersections and apparently tried to bait officers into pursuing them.
Groton police are still investigating and are asking anyone with information to contact them at 860-441-6712.
