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 is under active investigation, and police said no arrests have been made at this time.

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.

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.