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06/17/2024 02:21 PMPress Release from East Haven Police Department
On June 14, at approximately 9:59 p.m., East Haven Police Department (EHPD) officers and East Haven Fire Department personnel were dispatched to the area of Main Street and Boston Avenue for a report of a struck pedestrian. Upon arrival, it was determined that the suspect vehicle had fled the scene, and the victim had suffered life-threatening injuries.
Initial witness statements described a dark-colored sedan which had fled east on Main Street. Officers quickly conducted a canvass of the area and obtained surveillance video from a private residence on Main Street which depicted a white hatchback style vehicle striking the pedestrian and fleeing east on Main Street. The pedestrian, later identified as Gina LaVacca, 47, of 512 Main Street, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Several officers started canvassing the center district, at which time officers Dean Bibens and Micah Belcher located the suspect vehicle in the parking lot of Autumn Ridge Apartments at 90 Gerrish Avenue. With the assistance of Sergeant Ryan Gorman and Detective Jon Trinh, the operator, Elizabeth Cronk, 45, was quickly located and taken into custody.
Cronk has been charged with evading responsibility resulting in death and operating a motor vehicle without a license. Cronk is being held on a $250,000 surety bond and appeared in court on June 17.
This incident is still being investigated by the South Central Connecticut Traffic Unit, and anyone with information relevant to this investigation is asked to contact the EHPD at 203-468-3820.