Hartford community mourns toddler killed in hit-and-run – NBC Connecticut

The community is remembering a young girl killed in a hit-and-run crash in Hartford. Police say she ran out of a laundromat Monday night and the car that hit her drove away. It was found miles away in New Haven Tuesday morning.

Balloons and a candle now stand outside a laundromat on New Britain Avenue in Hartford in remembrance of the young girl who lost her life Monday night. Hartford police say the 19-month-old girl ran out the front door and into the street, where she was struck and killed. Customers at the laundromat say they are stunned by the news.

“Any mother would feel bad if she lost a child,” said Nolbiama Ramirez of Hartford.

One woman speaks only Spanish and says she is still trying to process it all.

“As a mother, I feel sorry for her. I want to express my condolences to her family for what happened. As parents, we have to be more careful,” Ramirez said.

Regulars at the laundromat say that families with small children often go there and that the area can sometimes be dangerous.

“I come here almost … every week. Every day to do laundry, and it is very dangerous, very dangerous, very bad. Very bad,” said Aurora Martinez of Hartford.

Others in the area say drivers drive way too fast on this stretch of New Britain Avenue.

“I don’t feel comfortable here. There are no controls and these cars drive through here as if they had no sense,” said Rosa Rivera of Hartford.

The next morning, investigators were able to locate the suspect vehicle, a black BMW, in New Haven. The driver in the vehicle was detained for questioning and is now considered a suspect. Hartford police say they have surveillance video of the hit-and-run accident.

“I can tell you, from what I saw, it all happened very quickly, the child ran out of the laundromat very quickly, absolutely heartbreaking,” said Hartford police Lt. Aaron Boisvert.

At the moment, this memorial is just a small token of support for the family.

“I hope this gives strength to her and her family,” Ramirez said.

The Department of Children and Families says it is working with the Hartford Police Department in investigating this case. The identity of the suspected driver has not yet been released.