Collision Course, A Connecticut Public Original Documentary
The fatal police shooting of Anthony Jose “Chulo” Vega Cruz after a traffic stop in Wethersfield is examined in Collision Course, a half-hour TV documentary that kicks off Connecticut Public’s new investigative journalism project.
Collision Course examines the dynamics at play that led the lives of two men — 18-year-old Vega Cruz and Officer Layau Eulizier Jr. — to collide on Wethersfield’s Silas Deane Highway on April 20, 2019.
In collaboration with Hartford filmmaker Pedro Bermudez, Collision Course features new, exclusive interviews that provide insight into Vega Cruz’s mindset leading up to the traffic stop. The documentary also includes reporting after Vega Cruz’s death and the Wethersfield community’s response to it. Collision Course refocuses attention on the Hartford suburb’s practice of heavily enforcing minor motor vehicle violations, such as tinted windows – and pulling over black and brown drivers at disproportionately higher rates when compared to whites.
Where to Watch the Full Documentary:
- On-demand on this website, CPTV.org/collision-course (Note: both English and Spanish subtitles are available within the video player.)
- On CPTV’s YouTube channel.
- On Facebook
- On CPTV Passport
- On the Connecticut Public mobile app (available for free download at the App Store or in Google Play.)
In addition, the program will be embedded via Hearst Connecticut Media online newspapers.
Special encores of Collision Course -- updated with new information in June 2020* -- will also air on CPTV and CPTV Spirit on the following dates and times:
- Friday, June 5, 2020 at 10 p.m. on CPTV
- Sunday, June 7, 2020 at 7 p.m. on CPTV Spirit
- Thursday, June 18, 2020 at 11 p.m. on CPTV
- Sunday, June 21, 2020 at 7 p.m. on CPTV
*This updated version is also now available to stream on this page.
On Where We Live, a discussion about Collision Course
On October 21, 2020, host Lucy Nalpathanchil interviewed Collision Course supervising producer Vanessa de la Torre about the documentary. Listen below.
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Introducing "The Accountability Project," an investigative reporting initiative from Connecticut Public
“Connecticut Public believes that investigative journalism is a vital service to our members and communities,” said Mark Contreras, president and chief executive officer. “We are building our bench of dedicated reporters, editors and anchors to take on this important endeavor and, in partnership with our public and commercial media partners, want to share stories like Collision Course with the largest audience possible in our state.”
“Collision Course is the first documentary in our new reporting endeavor, the Accountability Project, which was created in response to the public’s desire for fair and balanced reporting,” said Tim Rasmussen, chief content officer of Connecticut Public. “While newsrooms across the country are shrinking, Connecticut Public has been building its staff of reporters and content developers to tell stories through in-depth, longer-form reporting. This provides citizens with accurate information and facts, which they can use to make informed decisions as responsible stewards of their communities.”
"COLLISION COURSE" CREDITS:
Executive Producer - Tim Rasmussen; Supervising Producer - Vanessa de la Torre; Producers - Pedro Bermudez, Jeff Cohen, Tyler Russell; Editor - Tyler Russell; Associate Producer - Ryan Caron King | Reporting by - Vanessa de la Torre; Frankie Graziano; Ryan Lindsay: Patrick Skahill | Camera Operators - Pedro Bermudez; Ryan Caron King; David Wurtzel | Audio Ops: Larry Roeming; Kevin Kuhl; Ed Gonsalves; Paul Smith | Post Production: Sam Hockaday, Motion Graphics - John Gibson - Graphic Design; Larry Roeming - Post Audio; Production Coordinator - Joe Coss | Digital and Social Media - Megan Fitzgerald, Elizabeth Messina | Marketing and Public Relations - Sarah DeFilippis, Leslie Silverman | Connecticut Public Administration: Mark Contreras, Chief Executive Officer; Meg Sakellarides, Chief Financial Officer; Tim Rasmussen, Chief Content Officer; Carol Sisco, Vice President and Executive Director, Television; Joanne Whitehead, Sr. Director Programming
PHOTO AND VIDEO CREDITS: Additional Videos Courtesy Of: WFSB; The Hartford Courant; Stephanie Santiago; Town of Wethersfield; Wethersfield Police Department; Manchester Police Department; State of Connecticut. Additional Photos Courtesy Of: Jonathan Bloom; Layau Eulizier Jr.; Stephanie Santiago
MUSIC: "The Tides” by Field Lines Cartographer; "Hochu" by Tomoyoshi Date + Stijn Hüwels;
Music licensed courtesy of Home Normal
"Collision Course" - Copyright 2019, Connecticut Public Broadcasting, Inc.