New Britain, CT – Gabriel Figueroa, 24, will be sentenced on March 19 following a plea hearing on January 27 regarding a fatal motorcycle crash that occurred on September 18, 2024.
Authorities said the incident happened around 4:15 p.m. on Route 9 in Berlin when Figueroa's Chevrolet Impala collided with a 2023 Harley-Davidson motorcycle operated by 65-year-old Rev. Paul Krampitz of Cromwell. The collision resulted in Krampitz being thrown from the motorcycle, leading to his death.
Troopers from the Connecticut State Police's Troop H arrested Figueroa on July 23, 2025. He pleaded guilty to charges, while the charges of negligent homicide with a motor vehicle and failure to drive in the proper lane will not be pursued.
According to the arrest warrant, Figueroa admitted to seeing the motorcycle in his rearview mirror but believed he had enough space to shift lanes. Following the crash, he drove to his home in New Britain, stating that “fear took over” before returning to the scene with someone else.
Krampitz was a well-respected community member, known for his support to law enforcement agencies, particularly following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.