Cheshire, CT — An 18-year-old Cheshire High School senior died in a late-night crash after his car struck a tree and live power lines, igniting a fire.
Max Tello, set to graduate this spring, crashed on Wolf Hill Road near Blacks Road around 10 p.m., police said. Emergency crews found the vehicle engulfed in flames, power lines draped over it. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses said the fire started small but quickly spread. Eversource crews worked overnight to restore power to about 10 affected homes.
At Cheshire High, grief was visible. Classes were dismissed early as students struggled to process the loss.
“There were teachers, students—everyone was just upset,” said junior Ava Plankey, who met Tello in middle school. “He was just a really friendly person.”
Counselors were made available in the library to help students cope.
Cheshire Police and the Naugatuck Valley Collision Investigation Team are still determining the cause of the crash, including whether speed was a factor.
For now, Tello’s absence is deeply felt—in the hallways, on the school bus, and among the friends left behind, remembering the senior who should have been walking with them toward graduation.
