A man believed to be responsible for a hit-and-run in Fairfield may also face drunk driving charges, according to a new report. The 22-year-old man was accused of hitting a pedestrian on the 4th of July before allegedly fleeing the scene. Now, Connecticut prosecutors are saying he may have also been drunk at the time of the accident. If he is convicted on a DUI charge, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
According to the report, around 7:45 p.m. on July 4, the 22-year-old man allegedly struck a 32-year-old female pedestrian with the side mirror of his vehicle before driving away. The woman was later pronounced dead. Police said they encountered a vehicle matching witness descriptions of the hit-and-run car and arrested the driver the following evening. He was later released on $150,000 bond, with the understanding that he is not allowed to operate a motor vehicle until the trial is concluded.
The man, a former firefighter, now stands charged with misconduct with a motor vehicle, evading responsibility in operating a vehicle resulting in death, and a variety of other charges. Prosecutors say there is evidence the man may have been drinking before the accident occurred, which makes a DUI charge likely. His next court appearance is slated for July 30.
If the man is found guilty of a DUI charge, not to mention the myriad of other charges he faces, he could lose not only his license but his freedom. This is why Connecticut prosecutors are tasked with proving beyond reasonable doubt the man was drunk at the time of the accident. If they are unable to prove this using concrete evidence like blood testing or even breath analysis, it is possible the man’s criminal defense attorney could leverage this to reduce the charges or even see some charges dropped altogether.