A tragic event unfolded in Connecticut, where a man is now in custody following a hit-and-run accident that claimed the life of a 14-year-old boy on Christmas Day. The crash also left three others with serious injuries, according to authorities in the state known as the Nutmeg State.

Tyron Davis, 26, faces multiple charges, including three counts of first-degree assault, and single counts of second-degree manslaughter, evading responsibility resulting in death, reckless driving, and failure to maintain his lane, as reported by the Hartford Police Department. The incident, which occurred on December 25, 2025, at the intersection of Cornwall Street and Hebron Street in Hartford, tragically ended the life of 14-year-old Malachi James.

The accident transpired at approximately 9:18 p.m. when James and his family were traveling south on Cornwall Street in a Toyota Camry. A Tesla Cybertruck, driven by Davis, veered into the southbound lane, resulting in a catastrophic head-on collision, according to an affidavit obtained by the Hartford Courant. Firefighters had to extract the family from their vehicle before they were transported to a nearby hospital, where young Malachi was declared dead upon arrival.

At a press conference following the incident, a police spokesperson described the scene as a “horrific-looking accident,” with a “debris field” and “two vehicles that were absolutely demolished.”

The driver of the Tesla, however, fled the scene on foot, adding to the urgency of the police investigation.

Authorities quickly identified the vehicle as a rental, bearing a temporary Georgia license plate. The affidavit reveals that it belonged to an individual operating a private rental car business, aiding investigators in their pursuit of justice.

The truck’s owner then provided the name of the person the vehicle had been rented to. As it turned out, that man remained at the crime scene and, when questioned by law enforcement, allegedly said his acquaintance, Davis, helped facilitate the rental of the Cybertruck.

The man went on to explain that Davis had already rented a BMW from the individual who owns the rental car business. The business owner, at the time, only had a Cybertruck available, so the man was initially hesitant because he had never driven a Tesla but ultimately agreed because he needed a vehicle, according to the affidavit.

After that, Davis and the other man traveled together in the rented BMW to a grocery store parking lot in Simsbury to pick up the Tesla. Once there, however, the drivers allegedly switched things up due to the other man’s still-professed unfamiliarity with operating a Tesla. The man drove the BMW while Davis got behind the wheel of the Tesla, police said. The pair had plans to stop for pizza in Hartford and eventually change vehicles after the other man was able to do some research on how to drive a Cybertruck, according to law enforcement.

The man would go on to tell police he was driving right behind Davis when the crash occurred and that he witnessed the incident, according to the affidavit. He said he first went to check on Davis, saw that he had only minor injuries, then went to check on the people in the Toyota. There, he found others helping the family, so he went back to the Cybertruck and found that Davis was gone, police said.

Investigators were provided the defendant’s phone number — but attempts to reach out were swiftly ended when an iPhone on the floor of the Tesla started ringing, police said.

Investigators then took DNA samples from inside the Cybertruck and seized the cellphone along with the vehicle’s flash drive, according to the affidavit. After obtaining a warrant to view the contents of the flash drive, police said the parking lot pickup had been recorded as well as parts of the crash. In the crash-related footage, Davis is alleged to have passed another car by veering into the southbound lane – with the Camry’s headlights “clearly seen” in the distance, police said.

Yet, instead of slowing down or getting back into the correct northbound lane, the defendant allegedly barreled ahead until the two vehicles collided, according to the affidavit.

An officer familiar with Davis identified him and investigators additionally used facial recognition software to turn up what they referred to as a “99.9%” match with his photo from a prior arrest, police said.

On Tuesday, a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Davis eventually turned himself in and is currently being detained in the Hartford Correctional Center on $1.25 million bond.

In a GoFundMe started by his aunt, Malachi was remembered as “a vibrant and sweet young man who had just celebrated Christmas with his family, full of dreams, laughter, and a bright future ahead of him. He was cherished by all who knew him. A loving son, brother, grandson, nephew, godbrother, cousin and friend with an infectious spirit and a wonderful sense of humor. He had a smile that lit up the room.”

A separate GoFundMe is also raising money for the family.

“I just can’t believe that he had to die this way,” the boy’s mother said at a vigil days after the crash. “It’s just not right.”