Motorist Faces DUI, Manslaughter Charge For Killing Pedestrian In Griswold: Police

GRISWOLD, CT — A Norwich man was arrested Monday for an August 2024 accident in Griswold which killed an elderly woman as she was walking along Main Street.

Ean King, 37, of Hunters Road, Norwich, was charged on a warrant with second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, third-degree assault, reckless driving, and operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol/drugs.

Another motorist who was seated in a parked vehicle suffered non-life threatening injuries in the accident, state police said.

King is also accused of operation of a motor vehicle on a sidewalk, failure to maintain proper lane, failure to drive on the right side of the roadway, and failure to wear a seatbelt.

King was driving a BMW on Aug. 29, 2024 on Main Street, or Route 12, in the Jewett City borough of Griswold when the accident happened, around 3:44 p.m., police said.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, King’s vehicle went onto the sidewalk, hit a street sign, the pedestrian, a post office and two parked vehicles.

The pedestrian, Bernice LaRochelle, 78, was pronounced dead at the scene.

King told police something in the back seat of his vehicle had rolled forward and obstructed his brake pedal, the warrant shows.

However, police assert in the warrant that the BMW’s data shows the accelerator speed was consistent during the accident.

Following an investigation, police concluded King was under the influence of “cannabis and a narcotic analgesic” and was unable to safely operate a motor vehicle at the time, the warrant states.

King was held on a $150,000 court set bond and arraigned on the charges on Monday. He is next due in court on Sept. 16, court records show.

Read more:
CT Pedestrian Killed When Car Runs Onto Sidewalk