East Haven Woman, 46, Gets 10-Year Prison Term For Fatal 2024 Main St. Hit-And-Run: Court

EAST HAVEN, CT — A year ago, almost to the day, on June 14, 2024, just before 10 p.m., a car driven by a woman without a license, and with her young son in the car, struck and fatally injured a pedestrian on Main Street in East Haven. When she hit 47-year-old Gina Lavacca, the boy told his mother to stop. She did not, and drove to her home.

The account of the deadly hit-and-run is provided by John P. Doyle, Jr., State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of New Haven. In it, Doyle said that Elizabeth Cronk, 46, was identified as the driver of the white hatch-back-style vehicle in video footage obtained by East Haven police investigators. Doyle noted that Cronk, who cut a deal with prosecutors, "never called anyone for help."

"The defendant admitted being the person who struck the victim," Doyle said. "The defendant’s son told police that his mother was driving fast when she stuck the pedestrian."

Cronk was arrested by East Haven police and charged with evading responsibility resulting in death and driving without a license.

Held initially on a $250,000 surety bond, a year after the fatal crash, Cronk, who cut a plea deal, was found guilty last April, and this week, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Though, she will have that sentenced suspended after serving 51 months, or just over four years, the judge ordered, according to Doyle.

Read Lavacca's obituary here.