[Updated] West Hartford Police Arrest Driver Who Seriously Injured Pedestrian in Hit and Run Incident
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West Hartford Police Department hybrid SUV. Courtesy photo (we-ha.com file photo)
West Hartford Police said a person was found unresponsive in the roadway on South Main Street early Saturday morning, and hours later arrested the driver who fled the scene. [Updated, 5:15 p.m.]
By Ronni Newton
A passerby in the area of 202 South Main Street called 911 early Saturday morning after discovering a pedestrian unresponsive in the roadway, West Hartford Police Capt. Aaron Vafiades said in an email.
The incident was reported at 2:04 a.m., and West Hartford Police, West Hartford Fire Department, and other emergency responders were immediately dispatched to the scene.
Vafiades said officers found evidence that a motor crash had occurred, but the “offending vehicle was not on scene.”
Police were able to obtain surveillance footage and located the suspect vehicle and driver, who was arrested Saturday via warrant, Vafiades said later in the day.
Juan Pablo Novoa, 22, of Cromwell, has been charged with evading responsibility with serious physical injury, windshield, obstructing view, and tampering with physical evidence. He is being held on $500,000 bond and due in Hartford Superior Court on June 9.
Juan Pablo Novoa
The pedestrian was transported to an area hospital with what police said were serious injuries, but no further details were provided by police.
South Main Street was closed for several hours while the West Hartford Police Accident Reconstruction Team investigated the incident, but as of 7:15 a.m. had reopened to traffic.
The incident remains under active investigation.
Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to contact West Hartford Police at 860-523-5203 or via the anonymous tip line 860-570-8969 or email [email protected].
This incident occurred just days after a fatal crash occurred just over a mile away, near the intersection of South Main Street and New Britain Avenue. On Wednesday, a vigil was held at that intersection to memorialize the life of Stephen Mendelsohn, 63, of New Britain, who was fatally struck on June 1.
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How many more will it take before real action is taken?
As a resident and a cyclist, I see daily just how dangerous our roads have become. Drivers speed, run red lights, ignore stop signs, make reckless turns, pull out of driveways without looking, and double park with impunity. It’s not only frustrating — it’s life-threatening.
Last year, I witnessed a driver run a red light at a major intersection near Boulevard, nearly hitting a father and daughter crossing on bicycles. Shaken, I wrote to the Mayor, the Police Chief, and our State Representative. I never received a response.
This silence speaks volumes.
We need more than thoughts and condolences. We need real enforcement. We need officers on the streets, tickets being issued, and accountability for dangerous driving. Our town should be safe for children walking to school, for elderly residents crossing streets, for anyone choosing to walk or bike instead of drive.
Many drivers need to go back to driver’s ed to review the rules of the road. Pedestrian and Bicycle Education should also be required in order to graduate from high school. Meanwhile we all need to do our part, not just the town administration and police, to make West Hartford a safer place to live, drive, bike and walk. Help to change the driving culture in our town by taking the Vision Zero Safe Driver Pledge at WestHartfordCT.gov/town-departments/engineering/visionzero. At this site you can also learn about Vision Zero and all that it is doing. Then pick up your magnetic car decal at the town hall or library and display it to encourage others to drive safely.
I would add to common traffic violations the many drivers who make turns without signaling. Is it so hard to hit the turn signal arm on the steering wheel? It does turn off by itself!
I think too many drivers are looking at the “infotainment screens” in the newer cars.