Angel L. Soto, a 39-year-old Waterbury man known to friends as a warm-hearted baker and devoted father, died after his electric scooter collided with an SUV on Reidville Drive on October 7. He was pronounced dead after being rushed to a local hospital, leaving behind two young sons and a community that remembers him for his cooking, his humor and his generosity.
According to the Hartford Courant, Soto suffered serious, life-threatening injuries and was unresponsive when officers arrived at the crash scene. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the paper reported. The SUV driver stayed at the scene and showed no visible injuries, according to the same report.
Waterbury police officers responded to the 300 block of Reidville Drive after a report of a serious crash involving an SUV and an electric scooter, per a police news release cited by the Courant, which said officers arrived around 8:44 a.m. NBC Connecticut reported officers were called to the scene around 8:45 a.m. The crash remains under investigation, the Courant's report noted.
A Baker Remembered for His Warmth
Soto had worked as a baker at Brooklyn Bakery for the final six years of his life, according to his obituary. His obituary describes a man whose passion for baking brought joy to many in the community, and who was known for his warm spirit, generous heart and sense of humor.
Family members described Soto as a loving son, father, brother and friend who cherished his family and relationships. He was an avid cook who enjoyed preparing meals for family and friends, and he loved animals, horseback riding and spending time with the people close to him, the obituary states. He is survived by two children, identified as Angel Soto III and Ivan Soto, along with multiple other family members.
A memorial service for Soto is scheduled for Wednesday from 3 to 7 p.m. at Casey's Eastside Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Care on East Main Street in Waterbury. His obituary says his legacy will live on in the hearts of those who knew him.
A Wider Pattern of Micromobility Crashes
Soto's death adds to a broader trend of rising injuries and fatalities tied to e-bikes and e-scooters. Nationwide, emergency-department visits for micromobility crash injuries climbed from 37,300 in 2017 to 149,100 in 2024, a 300% increase, according to Greenwich Free Press. At least 533 people were killed in such crashes across the country over that same period, with annual deaths rising from five in 2017 to 135 in 2024, the outlet reported.
In Connecticut specifically, the Connecticut Crash Data Repository recorded 144 crashes involving e-bikes and e-scooters between 2021 and 2025, including 124 that resulted in injuries and one that was fatal, per the same report. More than a quarter of the people involved in those Connecticut crashes were under 18, the data shows.
The issue has drawn attention well beyond Connecticut. More than two dozen people riding electric bikes and stand-up scooters died in crashes in New York City in 2026, according to The New York Times, which reported at least 28 such deaths by September 30. The newspaper noted that the New York City Council held a hearing to consider new regulations addressing the safety concerns.
Connecticut law already addresses some rules of the road for micromobility devices. Under state statute, an electric bicycle or electric foot scooter must give an audible signal within a reasonable distance before overtaking and passing a pedestrian or another bicycle on a roadway, according to the Connecticut General Assembly's Public Act No. 19-162.
