26- Year-Old Salma Garcia Killed in Crash

A California man is facing multiple felony charges including negligent homicide after crashing his car and killing the passenger in early October.

According to information released by the N.H. State Police, Vincent Joseph Mendillo, 27, of Mission Viejo, California, was arrested on Oct. 25 and faces the following charges: Negligent Homicide-DUI (felony A); DUI, Aggravated Collision with Serious Injury (felony B); Reckless Conduct (Misdemeanor A); and Second Degree Assault, Deadly Weapon (Felony B).

According to the New Hampshire State Police statement, at about 12:50 p.m. on Oct. 6, officers from the New London Police Department and Sunapee Police Department, along with members of the New London Fire Department and New London Hospital EMS, responded to a report of a collision on Little Sunapee Road.

First responders found that a 2024 Hyundai Elantra had been traveling southeast when the driver failed to negotiate a curve in the road to the right. The vehicle went off the left side of the road and struck a utility trailer that was parked on the side of the road. The Hyundai reportedly caught fire.

Salma Garcia, 26, of Mission Viejo, California, was pronounced dead “as a result of injuries suffered in the crash,” according to a released statement by the New Hampshire State Police Department of Safety.

The New London Police Department requested that the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction (C.A.R.) Unit investigate the crash. They have been assisted by State Police Troop D, as well as members of the N.H. State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Mendillo was arrested on Oct. 25 on a warrant and arraigned on Oct. 28 in Newport District Court. Bail was set at $25,000. A probable cause hearing was set by the court for Nov. 7.