A driver struck and killed a 57-year-old Hamden man who was standing inside a bus stop enclosure Wednesday.
The collision occurred at Dixwell Avenue and Woodin Street at about 5 a.m.
Here is what happened, according to Hamden police Capt. Ronald Smith:
A 31-year-old Ansonia woman was driving northbound on Dixwell Avenue. She crossed over the southbound lanes and crashed into a bus stop enclosure.
Two men were inside the enclosure. Both were injured. Firefighters arrived to offer emergency medical care; then the victims were transported to the hospital, where the 57-year-old man, whose name was Maurice Messier, was later declared dead.
The other victim is 59 years old.
The driver fled the scene of the crash on foot. Hamden officer Elvin Rivera (a retired New Haven cop) caught up with her and arrested her. Police charged her with reckless driving, evading responsibility, operating without a license, and failure to drive in the proper lane. Police anticipate possible additional charges.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Officer Kevin Hall at 203 – 230-4036.
This is terrible and my heart goes out to that man's family.
Thanks to the Independent for again calling it what it is (not an "accident") and not turning it into a passive act perpetrated by an inanimate object (the car) rather than the driver behind the wheel of that car.