Truck Seized In Hit-And-Run

by Melinda Tuhus | August 5, 2008 2:50 AM | | Comments (11)

(Updated Thurs. 11:12 a.m.) Police have seized a truck they say is responsible for a hit-and-run collision with a cyclist in Branford. The investigation is continuing.

Branford resident Madeleine LaStrange, 50, was cycling west on Route 1 in Branford around 3 p.m. Monday afternoon when she was hit by a driver of a white or light-colored pickup truck going in the same direction. She was listed in fair condition at Yale New Haven Hospital Tuesday. Branford Deputy Police Chief Tom Fowler said Tuesday that police are still reconstructing the accident, but they knew some things already.

“Our initial investigation revealed that she was struck and thrown on the hood of the truck,” he said. “She was carried on the hood for a short distance and fell off, coming to rest on the side of the road. Then it looks like the offending vehicle literally drove over her bicycle and then just kept going down the road.”

Fowler added, “She wasn’t wearing a helmet, and obviously we encourage any cyclist [to wear one], especially on Route 1, which is a very busy road through Branford, with trucks and passenger vehicles, and somewhat of a dangerous road to be riding on.”

Update: A business that had just that morning installed a video surveillance system recorded the immediate aftermath of the accident and caught the offending vehicle leaving the scene, according to Lt Geoffrey Morgan, patrol commander. He said Officer Michael Bonfiglio, who patrols that area, recognized the truck and went to the construction site where it was parked. Police seized the truck (with a broken headlight) and are applying for a search warrant to search the interior. “We’ll compare pieces from the headlight with pieces we found on the scene,” Morgan said. “Also, we’ll look for marks from the bicycle, scrape marks, body fluids or hair from the victim that would be left on the truck.”

Morgan added that police are in the process of interviewing company employees and supervisors to see who would have been driving the truck at the time of the accident.

“We’re fairly confident this is the truck and that the investigation will come to a successful conclusion,” he said.

Mark Scott is a New Haven resident who bike commutes all over greater New Haven. He said he came across the scene of the collision about five minutes after it occurred, when the victim was already being treated by emergency medical personnel and police were interviewing witnesses.

“It was scary,” he said, “because if I’d been there a few minutes earlier [the driver] could have hit me.”

The accident reconstruction should reveal who was “at fault,” and it may not have been the motorist. Just last month in Branford, a cyclist, Dr. Scott Borrus, was struck by a motorist. It was discovered that he had a heart attack just prior to the crash that caused him to ride erratically into the motorist’s path.

Cycling advocates have said they find little solace or value in placing blame. They say the roads are built for motor vehicles traveling at high speeds, and whenever a cyclist tries to “share the road,” it’s an accident waiting to happen. They - along with some city officials and other residents - are calling for traffic -calming measures that would allow cyclists and pedestrians to share the road safely.

Deputy Chief Fowler said a couple of meetings have been held in town recently to discuss this very issue: “There is a proposal through COG [South Central Regional Council of Governments] about renovating a section of Main Street from Wal-Mart Plaza to the center of Branford,” he said. “COG has contracted with a traffic engineering firm to do traffic calming in that area, and one of the proposals is a bike lane to accommodate everyone who uses the roads, not just cars.”







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Comments

Posted by: David Streever | August 6, 2008 7:22 AM

Regardless of legal fault, the driver who chose to run will face appropriate penalties, I hope.

I love that the Branford police investigate this, but NHPD completely ignored a similar hit & run here, despite a description of a large green pickup truck with a dent in the passenger side. That sounds almost as unclear as this trucks description...... hopefully the times are changing here.

Posted by: fairhavendoc | August 6, 2008 11:04 AM

who cares who is at fault for the accident. a hit and run is one of the most disgusting crimes someone can commit.

HELMETS PEOPLE!!!!

Posted by: Deuce | August 6, 2008 11:48 AM

I would guess that a hit-and-run driver has something to hide. Either they are at fault, are DWI, have drugs in the car, suspended license or registration, etc. Glad to see that the investigation is getting closer to a suspect.

Posted by: Ben | August 6, 2008 11:53 AM

Nice work Branford PD.

Posted by: anon | August 6, 2008 12:23 PM

David, the state sets the "appropriate" penalties. Obviously they are not high enough if people are still committing deadly, heinous crimes like this with such frequency. The penalty should be tens of thousands of dollars plus significant jail time.

Posted by: dede | August 6, 2008 1:36 PM

David and Anon
i agree with both of you.....i'm glad this is coming to an end ..... why can't New Haven Police do the same....maybe just maybe the New Chief Lewis will do something....but remember he has to answer to Robert Smuts...and THE Mayor.

Posted by: Anonyme | August 6, 2008 3:44 PM

re: "appropriate penalties"

It sounds like you believe that "appropriate penalties" would deter crime.

"people are still committing deadly, heinous crimes"

There are three basic factors behind all committed crimes.

1)you plan it/think you can get away with it

2)committed the crime in the heat of the moment (crime of passion)

3)you have no capacity to understand you are committing a crime (insanity)

What penalty can deter any crime? There is not a penalty on this Earth that can deter crime.

If you're talking about stopping people form committing crimes by locking them up for life on some island somewhere than, yes, recidivism will plummet to undetectable levels. Will anyone be deterred? No.

I forgot to mention a 4th factor behind crime. A type that spans all three stated types where the individual accepts or even expects to be caught for the committed crime and views arrest and incarceration in a positive way. Where an arrest would raise the individuals status in their specific social circles.

Deterring penalties do not exist.

Posted by: anon | August 6, 2008 4:17 PM

I disagree, Anonyme. I think that if speeding at 50mph in a 25mph zone led to a $2,500 ticket, rather than a $100 ticket, fewer people would do it, and lives and billions in long-term health care and economic costs could be saved.

Many studies show that enforcement and ticketing increases compliance with the law.

Posted by: JMS | August 6, 2008 9:44 PM

Great that they managed to track down the offending vehicle. Good work by the Brandford PD.

JMS

Posted by: Bruce | August 7, 2008 9:44 AM

Nice work Branford PD!

Regardless of what penalties the state allows, drivers in New Haven are rarely (if ever) even ticketed when they hit and injure bicyclists who have the legal right of way. The New Haven Independent has reported several of such incidents. Imagine if you were attacked and injured, then the police find the attacker who admits to the crime and he gets away with a warning. This is basically what has happened time and time again regarding bicyclists hit by cars in New Haven.

Posted by: Pam Fowler | August 7, 2008 4:31 PM

My wishes for a full and speedy recovery go out to Ms. Lastrange.

The Branford police department is to be commended for their work on this crime. My experience with the department has been positive and supportive. However, there is still much work to be done in Branford to raise awareness, implement near term changes, and plan longer term solutions.


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