Meriden, CT – The stepfather of a 6-year-old boy killed in a go-kart crash last year pleaded no contest Tuesday to two counts of first-degree reckless endangerment, court officials said.
Steven Stolfi had originally faced two counts of risk of injury to a child after his stepson, Adrian, died in Kronenberger Park in April.
According to an arrest warrant, Adrian was behind the wheel of the go-kart, with his 4-year-old brother as a passenger, when the vehicle accelerated. Stolfi ran after them, shouting for Adrian to stop, police said.
Moments later, the go-kart crashed into a closed gate. Adrian suffered a traumatic head injury and later died.
Police determined the go-kart was “homemade and modified by Steven Stolfi.” An inspection showed that the body came from a Dune-Racer Power Wheels toy car “designed and sold to be powered by a 12v battery” with a top speed of 5 mph.
Investigators said the go-kart had been fitted with a gas engine and was capable of reaching “top speeds of 28 mph” with “no protective measures” such as seatbelts or harnesses.
A judge sentenced Stolfi to 364 days but suspended the sentence, meaning he will not serve time in prison.
