Police arrested a 55-year-old East Haven woman who allegedly crashed her car into a scooter on the Tomlinson Bridge, killing one of the riders, then fled the scene.
Police tracked her down with the help of motorists who called in her license plate, according to police spokesman Capt. Anthony Duff.
The scooter rider who died was 18 years old.
Police received a call about the crash Friday night at 10:26 p.m., according to Duff.
The crash occurred on the bridge, which is on Forbes Avenue between East and Stiles Street.
“Arriving officers and emergency medical responders found a crash scene with a car’s front bumper, the scooter, and the two scooter riders lying in the roadway. The two male victims, ages 18 and 15, were transported by ambulance to the hospital with life threatening injuries. The 18 year old was pronounced deceased at the hospital and the 15 year old was listed in critical condition,” Duff wrote in a release. The 18-year-old was subsequently identified as recent Common Ground High School student Christopher Franco.
“Passing motorists spotted a damaged vehicle travelling from the scene and thought it may have been involved. The good Samaritans called 911 and relayed the location of the offending vehicle as it traveled from the scene to Townsend Avenue. Officers responded and stopped the offending vehicle as it turned onto Parker Place from Townsend Avenue.”
The driver was taken by ambulance to the hospital for a medical evaluation. Then cops brought her to the lock-up at 1 Union Ave., where she is being held on $200,000 on a felony charge of evading responsibility in case involving death or serious injury.
The police department’s Accident Reconstruction Unit is investigating the crash.
“Witnesses who have not spoken to police are asked to call the New Haven Police Department at 203 – 946-6316,” Duff wrote.
