Police arrest woman for fatal hit-and-run in East Haven

EAST HAVEN, Connecticut — A woman was arrested Friday night following a fatal hit-and-run crash in East Haven, according to East Haven police.

Elizabeth Cronk, 45, was located at the Autumn Ridge Apartments on Gerrish Avenue and taken into custody after she struck and killed Gina LaVacca, 47, of East Haven in a white hatchback vehicle, police said.

According to police, Cronk is accused of fleeing the scene of a crime resulting in death and driving without a license.

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Police said officers and members of the East Haven Fire Department were dispatched to the area of ​​Main Street and Boston Avenue around 9:59 p.m. on Friday after a pedestrian was struck. Once on scene, emergency responders found the suspect vehicle fled the scene and the victim sustained life-threatening injuries.

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Police say the suspect fled east on Main Street, witnesses said. After searching the area, police obtained surveillance footage that they say shows the white hatchback striking the pedestrian and fleeing east on Main Street. The pedestrian, LaVacca, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

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Police said as several officers began searching the downtown area, Officers Dean Bibens and Micah Belcher found the white hatchback vehicle in the parking lot of the Autumn Ridge Apartments. With the assistance of Sergeant Ryan Gorman and Det. John Trinh, police were able to quickly locate and arrest Cronk.

Police said an arrest warrant was issued for $250,000 bail and Cronk will appear in court in New Haven on Monday.

The incident remains under investigation by the South Central Connecticut Department of Transportation. Anyone with relevant information is asked to call police at 203-468-3820.

Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at [email protected].

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