UPDATE: Pedestrian Hit, Killed By New Britain Cop Identified: Police

NEW BRITAIN, CT — State police are investigating a fatal accident involving a New Britain police cruiser that struck and killed a 40-year-old New Britain woman early Thursday morning.

According to Connecticut State Police, the incident happened at 1:10 a.m. and they have identified the victim as Katherine Colon, 40, of New Britain.

According to the New Britain Police Department, the officer involved has been identified as Officer Connor Reinsch, who is off the streets and has been placed on "restricted duty."

"Officer Reinsch will be out of work and placed on restricted duty pending the outcome of the investigation by the Connecticut State Police and Waterbury State’s Attorney’s Office. The New Britain Police Department has and will continue cooperating with all law enforcement officials
overseeing the investigation into this accident," wrote the NBPD Chief Matthew Marino in a statement.

According to the accident report released by the state, a 2017 Ford Police Interceptor Utility vehicle operated by Reinsch was traveling west on West Main Street in New Britain.

State police said, at that time, a female pedestrian traveling northbound attempted to cross the roadway just east of the intersection with Lexington Street.

That's when the police vehicle collided with the woman in the westbound lane, according to the report.

The woman suffered fatal injuries, according to state police.

At the request of the New Britain State's Attorney's Office, the state police Eastern District Major Crime Squad has assumed control of the accident probe with the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Squad.

Meanwhile, the NBPD — at the conclusion of the state probe — will review the incident internally by the department's Professional Standards Division.

Said Marino: " These are unfortunate circumstances and, on behalf of the New Britain Police Department, I offer my sincere condolences to all the family and friends impacted."

Anyone with information on the incident or who witnessed it is asked to contact state police Det. Ethan Tanksley at ethan.tanksley@ct.gov or Det. Mark Jesudowich at mark.jesudowich@ct.gov.