James Zabel and John D’Aniello Obituary: Two Men Killed in Fiery Cheshire, Connecticut Crash

James Zabel, 43, of Meriden, and John D’Aniello, 42, of Waterbury, died after a 1978 Chevrolet Camaro crashed into a tree and caught fire on Waterbury Road in Cheshire, Connecticut, on November 1, 2026.

James Zabel and John D’Aniello Die in Cheshire Accident

Two Connecticut communities are mourning after James Zabel of Meriden and John D’Aniello of Waterbury died in a serious single-vehicle crash in Cheshire on Sunday night, November 1, 2026.

Police identified Zabel, 43, as the driver and D’Aniello, 42, as the passenger. Their deaths were confirmed in reports citing information released by the Cheshire Police Department. The incident has brought sadness to people in Meriden, Waterbury, and the surrounding community

What Happened on Waterbury Road in Cheshire?

According to police information, emergency responders were dispatched at approximately 10:45 p.m. to Waterbury Road near Rita Avenue following a report of a vehicle striking a tree.

The vehicle was a 1978 Chevrolet Camaro. Investigators said it left the roadway, collided with a tree, and caught fire. First responders removed both occupants from the wreckage and transported them by ambulance to St. Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury. Both men were subsequently pronounced dead.

The Cheshire Police Department’s Traffic Division and members of the Naugatuck Valley Crash Investigation Team responded to investigate the collision. Authorities had not established what caused the Camaro to leave the road, and the investigation remained ongoing in the reports published November 2.

Remembering the Two Men

James Zabel, a Meriden resident, and John D’Aniello, of Waterbury, are being remembered following the tragic loss. Their deaths represent a painful moment for the people who knew them and for the communities connected to their lives.

Although the available reports confirm their identities and ages, they do not provide detailed personal biographies, family statements, or verified funeral arrangements. Those details should be added only when confirmed by relatives or an authorized memorial announcement.

Police Investigation and Public Information

Anyone with information about the collision is asked to contact Cheshire Police Officer Kristian Johnson at 203-271-5544. The investigation is intended to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Editorial clarification: The deaths of James Zabel and John D’Aniello, their ages and hometowns, and the basic circumstances of the Cheshire crash are supported by multiple news reports citing police. The precise cause of the crash has not been established in the available reporting.

Heartfelt condolences go out to the families, friends, and loved ones of James Zabel and John D’Aniello. May those grieving find strength in one another and comfort in the memories they shared.