Suspect In Custody In Hit-And-Run That Injured Pedestrian: West Hartford Police: UPDATE

WEST HARTFORD, CT — West Hartford police late Saturday afternoon said they have a suspect in custody in connection with a hit-and-run incident in which a pedestrian was seriously injured.

Less than a week after a man was struck and killed in a West Hartford roadway, another pedestrian was seriously injured in a vehicle-versus-pedestrian incident early Saturday morning.

At about 5 p.m., Saturday, the WHPD said the department's subsequent investigation resulted in charges against Juan Pablo Novoa, 22, of Cromwell.

Police said Novoa was charged with evading responsibility of serious physical injury, having an obstructed windshield view, and tampering with physical evidence.

Novoa is currently being held on a $500,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in Hartford Superior Court on Monday, June 9.

"Through investigative efforts, a suspect vehicle was developed and contact was made with the registered owner," wrote the WHPD in a release. "The registered owner was placed under arrest."

According to police, the pedestrian was rushed to the hospital early Saturday morning with serious injuries. Police late Saturday afternoon said no further information was available about the victim.

Police said responders were called to the area of 202 S. Main St. at about 2:04 a.m. Saturday for a report of a pedestrian unresponsive in the roadway.

According to the WHPD, a passerby located the pedestrian in the roadway and contacted 911.

Police said officers arrived on the scene to find evidence of a motor vehicle accident, but the offending vehicle was not there.

The pedestrian was then transported to an area hospital with serious injuries, police said.

The West Hartford Police accident reconstruction team was called to investigate, and South Main Street was closed for much of the early morning hours. The road is now open.

"The West Hartford Police Department would like to thank the West Hartford Fire Department and AMR for their efforts on scene," the WHPD said in a statement.

This incident comes less than a week after a 63-year-old New Britain man was struck and killed by a vehicle at the intersection of New Britain Avenue and South Main Street.

The motorist involved in that accident, which occurred Sunday night, June 1, stayed on the scene and is cooperating with the investigation.

West Hartford has had problems with vehicle/pedestrian incidents in recent years.

When five people were killed in separate incidents at the end of 2022, West Hartford's leadership embarked on an initiative to curb such accidents and improve roadway/pedestrian safety.

Last year, that work culminated in the town's Vision Zero project, with an aim to, eventually, eliminate fatal/serious-injury incidents on West Hartford sidewalks/roads.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the West Hartford Police Department at 860-523-5203, or use the anonymous WHPD Tip Line/email at 860-570-8969 or whpdtips@westhartfordct.gov.

From June 2: 'Victim Identified In Fatal West Hartford Accident: Police: UPDATE'

From March 3, 2024: 'WeHa Council Seeks 'Cultural' Change On Traffic Safety'

From Dec. 7, 2023: 'One Year After Tragedies, West Hartford Pledges Safer Roads'