Danbury Resident Dies After Being Struck By Accused Drunk Driver: Waterbury Police

WATERBURY, CT — A woman is accused of drunk driving after police say she struck and killed a pedestrian Thursday evening on South Main Street.

Police Sgt. Joseph Morais said the victim, a 43-year-old Danbury man, suffered severe head trauma and died at the scene.

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Police arrived at the scene around 9:45 p.m. and found the victim lying on the roadway adjacent to an SUV, police said.

According to police, officers determined the SUV's driver, Meralis Rivera-Maldonado, 38, of Waterbury, had hit the pedestrian, then continued forward and collided with two unoccupied parked vehicles before coming to a stop.

"While officers were interviewing Meralis, they observed distinct signs that indicated she was intoxicated," police said, in a news release Friday.

Meralis was taken into custody and charged with second-degree manslaughter with a motor vehicle, reckless driving, and operating under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Meralis was due to appear in Superior Court Friday morning.

Police as of Friday morning had not yet released the name of the victim.

The department's Crash Reconstruction Unit is continuing to investigate the accident. Anyone with information is asked to contact the unit at 203-346-3975 or call the anonymous Crime Stoppers tip line at 203-755-1234.