Cops mourned Wednesday for a fellow officer who died in an on-duty car crash, while friends of a second, critically injured officer maintained a hospital vigil.
The city was stunned by a tragic overnight car crash involving two police cruisers at the corner of Chapel and East streets. The crash claimed the life of one driver, Sgt. Dario “Scott” Aponte. Officer Diane Gonzalez, driver of a second car, had to be pulled out of her vehicle. She remained listed in critical condition at 1:40 Wednesday, according to a Yale-New Haven Hospital spokesman.
(Pictured in top photo:Two buddies of Diane Gonzalez: Yale officer Janet Feredente and New Haven Officer Leslee Witcher. Pictured in photo right below that: Assistant Police Chief Stephanie Redding hugging Fire Chief Michael Grant at police headquarters. Pictured below: Aponte at left, Gonzalez at right.)
Police said the accident happened at 11:27 p.m. at the intersection of Chapel and East streets. Aponte, who’s been on the force 17 years, was on his way to respond to a domestic call from Maltby Street. His car crashed into another cruiser driven by Officer Gonzalez, who was also responding to the call.
Both cops went to the hospital. Aponte was declared dead on arrival.
The fatal crash occurred just one week after the police department dedicated a new wall to fallen officers.
Chief James Lewis said a third car, driven by a civilian, was also involved in the crash. That driver sustained no injuries, the chief said.
“He’s Gonna Kill Her!”
Aponte and Gonzalez were called to respond to what sounded like a horrific scene on Maltby Street. A caller to 911 described a man beating a woman out on the street. A crowd had gathered. Kids were watching.
“He’s gonna kill her!” the caller says on the recording of the call, as voices can be heard shouting in the background.
The cops played the tape at a press conference at headquarters Wednesday morning. Click here to listen to the tape. Click on the play arrow to watch the scene at the press conference as officials played the recording on black HP Pavilion Entertainment PC, and Chief Lewis offered commentary.
When officers did arrive on Maltby Street in response to the late Tuesday night call, the man and his victim had left the scene. Cops later tracked them down. Chief Lewis said no arrests have been made yet, and that no oneappeared seriously hurt. The case remains under investigation, he said.
Meanwhile, the state police are investigating the fatal crash involving the two officers at Chapel and East. Lewis said some of the key details — such as which officer had the right of way — are as yet undetermined.
Sgt. Aponte was 43 years old. He was named a sergeant on July 25. He had previusly served on patrol, as a mounted officer, and as a detective over his 17 years on the force. He and hiw wife, fellow cop Donna Aponte, have four children; the youngest was born four months ago.
Officer Gonzalez, 47, has spent 17 years on the force. She has three chidlren and one grandson, with a second grandchild on the way.
Dunkin’ Donuts Buddies
Also at the hospital vigil were two cops who regularly meet Gonzalez for coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts at 11 each night before their overnight patrols begin: city Officer Witcher (at right in photo) and Yale Officer Feredente (center).
Witcher said she and Gonzalez are close enough friends to consider each other family. They often find each other called to the same scenes at night even if they’re patrolling different districts. Especially if there’s a domestic call in Fair haven.
That’s because Gonzalez speaks Spanish and because she’s especially good at calming people down, Witcher said.
“She’s very good with people. Whenever you’re going to a domestic call, she could talk a person down. She can de-escalate a situation like no one else can. She’s a mom.”
(Chief Lewis said that Gonzalez was not called to the Fair Haven incident Tuesday night for that reason; she just happened to be one of the nearest cops available.)
Another fine officer has lost his life and prayers go out to his family and also to the family of Diane hope dhe recovers from this horrible accident. So much crime in Fair Haven